Super Tasty Hybrid Two Dish Veggie Pasta Bake, One Vegetarian Pan and One with Meatballs

Season 4, Episode 14: Super Tasty Hybrid Two Dish Veggie Pasta Bake, One Vegetarian Pan and One with Meatballs. This recipe is easy and super tasty! Even my new daughter-in-law-to-be says so! She's a vegetarian like me! Do you cook for more than one diet in your home? If you do, this is one example of how I do it so I don't end up being a short order cook. Plan it ahead and split it before adding in the meat.

Ingredients:

• 16 oz penne pasta
• Two 28 oz. jars of marinara sauce
• One 28 oz. can of crushed tomatoes
• One 22 oz bag of frozen meatballs, cooked according to the package instructions
• 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
• 3/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese, divided
• 2 small cartons fresh Bella mushrooms, sliced
• 1 zucchini, chopped
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 3 Tbsp. olive oil
• 2 Tbsp. Italian seasoning mix
• 2 big handfuls of fresh baby spinach
• sea salt and black pepper sprinkled to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Chop and saute onions, red pepper, and zucchini in 1-1 1/2 Tbsp. olive oil in a frying pan.
3. Cook meatballs according to package instructions. Set aside.
4. Cook pasta to al dente directions on the pasta package. Drain.
5. Combie sauted veggies, drained pasta, jars of marinara, and can of crushed tomatoes and stir well. Add spinach and stir to wilt.
6. Saute mushrooms in 1-1 1/2 Tbsp. olive oil.
7. Add Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to pasta mixture and stir.
8. Add one fourth of the veggie/pasta mixture to two separate 9x13 inch baking dishes so you will have one vegetarian meatless pan and one with meatballs.
9. Spread half the sauted mushrooms across each pan, as desired.
10. Evenly spread cooked meatballs across the designated meat pan.
11. Sprinkle 1 1/2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese over both pans, evenly. 
12. Sprinkle 1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese across both pans.
13. Evenly spread the remaining pasta/veggie/sauce mixture across both pans, attempting to cover the meatballs as best as you can.
14. Sprinkle remaining cheeses evenly across both pans.
15. Cover with cooking sprayed foil.
16. Bake at 375 degrees for 50-60 minutes, until the sauce is bubbling and the cheese is metled.
17. Allow to cool and enjoy!

Books!

My hardcover cookbook is $3.00 off. Get the book: One Dish Two Diets Split Table Recipes Cookbook https://storyoriginapp.com/universalbooklinks/36b9ce90-6b57-11ec-837f-8f2460b6a963

My YA contemporary romance book Cabin Crew  https://storyoriginapp.com/universalbooklinks/7b524416-f7c1-11ef-aa8a-9ba899cb9223

Happy eating! Take care,

Julie

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