Ingredients
- Meatballs and Sausage:
- 2 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1/3 cup onion, finely chopped
- 1/4- 1/2 cup dry breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup evaporated milk
- 2 garlic cloves; minced
- 3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon oregano; dried
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 pound mild or hot Italian Sausage, casings removed and sliced
- Pasta Sauce:
- 1 small onion, chopped fine
- 2 garlic cloves; minced
- 1 1/2 teaspoon basil; dried
- 1 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 teaspoon pepper
- 28 ounce tomatoes; chopped
- 2 tablespoon tomato paste
- Casserole:
- 3 cups rigatoni
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Preparation
Step 1
In a large mixing bowl, beat egg lightly and then add in the onion, bread crumbs, evaporated milk, garlic, Parmesan, oregano, salt and pepper. Add ground beef and mix lightly. Add more bread crumbs if needed but do not pack meat down. Keep it loose and shape into small meatballs and set aside. Slice sausages to desired thickness. Set aside.
In large heavy skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat; cook meatballs in batches until brown on all sides. Then transfer back to plate on paper towels. Next, do the same thing with the sliced sausage and brown until just caramelized. Again, set aside on paper towel lined plate.
In same skillet, add a little more oil if needed and saute onion and garlic until just tender. Stir in tomatoes and tomato paste and bring to light boil. Stir in basil, oregano, sugar, basil, salt and pepper. Add in cooked meatballs and sausage slices and reduce heat to a low simmer for about 40 minutes. Sauce will thicken as it cooks.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Boil pasta as directed on package. You want your pasta tender yet firm. Drain well and return to pot. Pour in your homemade or store bought pasta sauce with meatballs and sausage. Mix well to coat pasta.
Transfer to 9 x 13 baking dish and sprinkle mozzarella all over the top. Then sprinkle on the Parmesan cheese evenly over top. Bake for about 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and casserole is heated through.