Pizza Casserole

 

Ingredients 

16 oz rotini or penne pasta noodles (uncooked) 

3 1/2 C pizza sauce

2 1/2 C water

1 C grated mozzarella cheese

1/2 C grated cheddar cheese

24 pepperonis 

1/4 C onions

1/4 diced bell peppers

1/2 C sliced mushrooms (optional) 

Directions

1) Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. 

2) Place uncooked pasta in a 13 x 9 in. baking dish. 

3) In a large bowl combine the pizza sauce, water, onions, diced bell peppers and mushrooms. 

4) Pour pizza sauce mixture over noodles, mix enough to ensure the noodles are coated. 

5) Sprinkle the grated cheese over the top of the noodles.

6) Spread the pepperoni on top of the cheese. 

7) Cover the casserole dish with foil. Bake at 425 degrees for 30 minutes. 

8) Remove the foil and bake another 10 minutes or until noodles are al dente and the cheese is melted and slightly browned.

Prep: 5 minutes

Cook: 40 minutes

Total: 45 minutes

Serves: 12 

Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Country-Style Pork Ribs

 

Ingredients 

2-3 lbs country-style pork ribs

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1/2 tsp garlic powder

oil for browning

Sauce:

1/3 C soy sauce

3/4 C pineapple juice or lemon-lime soda

3 cloves garlic (crushed) 

1/2 C brown sugar

Gravy: 

2 tbsp. cornstarch

1/4 C water

Directions

1)  Trim ribs of any excess fat. 

2) Heat oil over medium-high heat in a heavy skillet. 

3) Mix the salt, pepper and garlic powder; sprinkle over pork.

4) Brown pork well on both sides; place in a 5-6 qt crock pot. 

5) Mix sauce ingredients in a small bowl and pour over pork. 

6) Cover and cook on low 5-6 hours, or high 3-4 hours. 

7) If a thick sauce is desired, remove ribs to a serving plate and keep warm in a 200 degree oven, turn cooker to high (if you cooked on low) and heat until sauce begins to bubble. Mix the cornstarch and water and stir into sauce, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Cook for 5 minutes. 

8) You can return the ribs to the crock pot to coat with sauce if desired. Otherwise, ladle the sauce over ribs on serving platter.

Prep: 15 minutes

Cook: 6 hours 20 minutes

Total: 6 hours 35 minutes

Serves: 4 

Any variety of pork chops may be substituted but if using thin chops (less than 1/2 in thick) cook time will need to be adjusted down - approximately 4 hours low and 2 hours high.  

Slow Cooker Cajun Chicken Alfredo

 

Ingredients 

1 tbsp. olive oil

1 lb chicken breasts

1 lb smoked sausage (sliced into 1 in pieces) 

3 C heavy cream

4 C low sodium chicken broth

4 tbsp butter

2 tbsp. coarse cajun seasoning

2 cloves garlic smashed

1 lb. uncooked penne pasta

1/2 C hot water

5 oz freshly shredded parmesan cheese

kosher salt and black pepper

garlic powder

Directions

1) Pat chicken breasts dry and season with salt, pepper and a sprinkle of garlic powder. Heat olive oil over high heat and quickly sear chicken breasts on both sides. 

2) Add chicken breasts, sausage, heavy cream, chicken broth, butter, garlic cloves and 1/2 tsp of kosher salt, cajun seasoning and several turns of freshly ground black pepper to slow cooker. 

3) Cook on low for about 4 hours or high for 2-3 hours, until chicken has reached 165 degrees. 

4) Remove chicken from slow cooker and set aside to cool and slice. 

5) Stir in 1/2 C of hot water and uncooked penne pasta, cover and cook on high for 30 minutes. Just until pasta is tender. 

6) Once pasta is tender, stir in parmesan cheese, sliced chicken and additional salt and pepper to taste. 

Prep: 15 minutes

Cook: 4 hours 30 minutes

Total: 4 hours 45 minutes

Serves: 8