ITALIAN BAKED CHICKEN & SAUSAGE PASTINA

Italian Baked Chicken & Sausage Pastina image

Provided by Kimi Gaines

Categories Pasta

Time 50m

Number Of Ingredients 13

1 c pastina pasta
2 Tbsp olive oil, extra virgin
1 c cubed chicken breast (1-inch cubes)
1 lb bulk sausage
1 c diced onion
2 14.5 oz cans of diced tomatoes with juice
2 clove garlic, minced
1 c shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 c minced fresh parsley
1/2 tsp salt & pepper
1/2 c bread crumbs
1/2 c grated parmesan
2 Tbsp butter, plus more for buttering the baking dish

Steps:

1. PRE-HEAT OVEN TO 400F
2. BRING A LARGE POT SALTED WATER TO A BOIL OVER HIGH HEAT. ADD THE PASTA AND COOK UNTIL JUST TENDER, STIRRING OCCASIONALLY. ABOUT 5 MINUTES. DRAIN PASTA INTO A LARGE MIXING BOWL.
3. MEANWHILE, PUT THE OLIVE OIL & GARLIC IN A MEDIUM SAUTE PAN OVER MEDIUM HEAT. ADD THE CHICKEN AND SAUSAGE AND COOK TILL NO LONGER PINK. ADD IN ONIONS TILL SOFT. PUT MEAT MIXTURE IN BOWL WITH PASTA. STIR TO COMBINE. ADD IN MOZZARELLA CHEESE, PARSLEY TOMATOES, SALT AND PEPPER. PLACE MIXTURE IN A 9X13 BAKING DISH. IN A SEPARATE BOWL COMBINE BREAD CRUMBS AND PARMESAN CHEESE, SPRINKLE OVER TOP OF THE PASTA MIXTURE. DOT THE TOP WITH SMALL BITS OF BUTTER. BAKE UNTIL GOLDEN BROWN, ABOUT 30 MINUTES.