BAKED PENNE WITH SAUSAGE AND SPINACH (OVEN OR CROCK-POT)

Baked Penne With Sausage and Spinach (Oven or Crock-Pot) image

Provided by CookinDiva

Time 1h

Yield 12 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 12

2 teaspoons olive oil
1 cup onion, finely chopped (1 medium onion)
1 lb Italian sausage, hot (or mild if you prefer)
3 large garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup red wine
1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes (I like Cento brand)
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup pesto sauce, bottled (I use homemade)
1 lb penne pasta
2 cups baby spinach leaves, fresh, coarsely chopped
8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, cubed (or 4 oz. normal mozzarella)
1 cup parmesan cheese, divided usage

Steps:

Preheat oven to 375. Grease a deep lasagna pan (or two 9x9 pans). Crockpot instructions are at the bottom.
SAUCE: In a large deep saucepan, heat oil. Add onion and saute slowly until onion is soft, about 5 minutes. Add sausage to pan; continue to saute and break up sausage into bite size pieces. When sausage is just about done, add garlic for a minute or two. Finally, pour red wine into pan and bring wine to a boil to evaporate alcohol and eliminate most of the liquid.
Add tomatoes to other ingredients. Pour about 1/2 cup water into the tomato can to clean out the can - add this water to the pot. Add pesto. While this simmers about 10 minutes, cook the pasta.
PASTA: Bring plenty of salted water to boil for pasta (lots of water will prevent sticky pasta). Cook according to package directions; drain.
In a large mixing bowl, toss hot cooked pasta, chopped fresh spinach and tomato/sausage sauce. DO NOT ADD CHEESE YET. Continue combining hot ingredients until spinach wilts slightly, THEN add cubed mozzarella and 1/2 CUP of the Parmesan cheese. Toss quickly and pour into your prepared baking dish (if you work with the cheese too long, it will become a stringy mess!).
Sprinkle final 1/2 CUP Parmesan on top.
Bake 375 for 30 minutes, uncovered, until hot and bubbly.
CROCKPOT VERSION FOR A CROWD: Double recipe. Make sure pasta is a bit undercooked (slightly firm). Pour into crockpot; add 1 cup hot water around the edges. Cook on HIGH 3 hours.