Mexican Mac and Cheese

INGREDIENTS:
12 oz dried rigatoni pasta (3 cups)
1 lb. pork sausage
1 cup chopped onion (I used half of a small one)
1 16-oz jar green salsa
2 8-oz pkg shredded Monterey Jack cheese (4 cups)
Optional Toppings:
tomato wedges, sliced jalapenos, chopped fresh cilantro, salsa

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease 3-quart baking dish; set aside. 
2. Cook pasta according to directions. Drain; set aside.
3. Meanwhile, in large skillet cook sausage and onion until meat is browned and onion is tender. Drain fat. Return sausage/onion mixture to skillet. Stir in green salsa.
4. In prepared baking dish, layer half of the cooked pasta, half the sausage mixture, and half the cheese. Repeat layers.
5. Bake, uncovered, for 35 minutes or until bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes. 
6. If desired, top with tomato, jalapeno, and cilantro and serve with additional salsa.

Spaghetti Pie

INGREDIENTS:
8 oz Spaghetti, cooked (about 1/2 a package)
2 Large Eggs, whisked
1/2 Cup Parmesan Cheese, divided
1 Lb Ground Beef
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
1/2 Tsp Salt
1/2 Tsp Garlic Powder
1/2 Tsp Onion Powder
1 16 Oz Jar Marinara Sauce
1 Cup Ricotta Cheese
1/2 Tsp Italian Herbs
1 Cup Mozzarella Cheese, grated

DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Place the cooked spaghetti in a bowl and coat with 1 tbsp of olive oil.
3. Combine the eggs and 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese in a bowl. Add mixture to the spaghetti and mix.
4. Place the spaghetti mixture into a greased deep-dish pie plate and spread to make a “pie crust”.
5. Heat 1 Tbsp of oil in a sauté pan over medium heat and cook the ground turkey, salt, garlic and onion powder for 5 minutes or until the meat is cooked through.
6. Pour the marinara sauce over the meat and stir to combine.
7. In a bowl stir the Ricotta cheese, the remaining 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese and Italian herbs to combine.
8. Spread the Ricotta/Parmesan cheese mixture over the pasta, then layer the marinara mixture and finally, top with 1 cup of mozzarella.
9. Place dish on a sheet pan and bake for 30 minutes.
10. Cool, cut into wedges and serve.

**recipe from Weelicious

Italian Baked Chicken and Pastina

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup pastina pasta (or any small pasta)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup cubed chicken breast (1-inch cubes)
1/2 cup diced onion (about 1/2 a small onion)
1 clove garlic, minced
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice
1 cup shredded mozzarella
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
1 tablespoon butter, plus more for buttering the baking dish

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
2. Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until just tender, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. 
3. Drain pasta into a large mixing bowl.
4. Meanwhile, put the olive oil in a medium saute pan over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook for 3 minutes.
5. Add the onions and garlic, stirring to combine, and cook until the onions are soft and the chicken is cooked through, about 5 minutes more. 
6. Put the chicken mixture into the bowl with the cooked pasta. 
7. Add the canned tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, parsley, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. 
8. Place the mixture in a buttered 8x8 baking dish. 
9. In a small bowl mix together the bread crumbs and the Parmesan cheese. 
10. Sprinkle over the top of the pasta mixture. 
11. Dot the top with small bits of butter. 
12. Bake until the top is golden brown, about 30 minutes.

*recipe from The Food Network

Bacon and Parmesan Pasta

INGREDIENTS:
1 lb. bacon
1 pkg. penne pasta
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 (8 oz) pkg. cream cheese
1/2 cup shredded parmesan
2 eggs
crushed red pepper flakes, to taste
optional: grilled chicken

DIRECTIONS:

1. Season bacon with red pepper flakes, to taste.
2. Cook until crispy and chop. Set aside.
3. Cook pasta according to package directions.
4. Meanwhile, heat heavy cream and cream cheese in a saucepan over low heat until mixture is smooth.
5. Remove from heat.
6. Add eggs and parmesan cheese to creamy mixture.
7. Drain pasta and return to pot.
8. Add the sauce mix, chopped bacon, and grilled chicken.
9. Mix well to coat.

*recipe from Pearls, Handcuffs, and Happy Hour