Family Fridays: Kale & Sausage Pasta Bake

We've had roughly one week of spring weather here in Wisconsin. The rest of March and most of April has been cold, blustery and even snowy. Ugh. So much for breaking out the grill or trying some summery recipes. We're still in comfort food mode. Hence, the desire for pasta with cheese, and sausage and... kale. Onward, April! 

Despite the kale, this recipe is awesome. It's easy to make, only calls for a handful of ingredients and is a warm and hearty dish to keep you comforted until summer finally shows up. 

Kale & Sausage Pasta Bake
Recipe courtesy of: http://www.gimmesomeoven.com/5-ingredient-italian-sausage-kale-baked-ziti-recipe/

12 ounces ziti (or any pasta shape)
1 lb. ground Italian sausage (I strongly recommend using "spicy" Italian sausage)
4 cloves garlic, minced
3 large handfuls roughly-chopped kale leaves, stems removed
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
optional additional toppings: shredded Parmesan cheese, crushed red pepper flakes

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Heat a large stockpot full of well-salted water for the pasta.

In a large skillet, saute the Italian sausage over medium-high heat until browned (about 8-10 minutes), breaking the sausage up with a spoon into bite-sized pieces while cooking. When the sausage has browned, add in the minced garlic and saute for 1-2 additional minutes or until the garlic is fragrant. Remove pan from heat and set aside.

While the sausage is browning, cook the pasta al dente in the stockpot of boiling water according to package instructions. Drain.

Return pasta to the stockpot and add the sausage, garlic and kale. Gently toss to combine until the kale is dark green and slightly wilted.

Pour half of the pasta into a greased 11x7-inch or 9x13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle evenly with 1 cup of cheese. Layer the remaining half of the pasta evenly on top. Sprinkle evenly with the remaining 1 cup of cheese.

Bake for 20-25 minutes until the cheese is melted and just barely starts to turn golden. Remove and serve immediately, sprinkled with additional toppings if desired.

Notes from the Test Kitchen

-This is a great recipe to add more vegetables to. We had a few fresh tomatoes in the fridge, so we diced them up and added them. Sauteed mushrooms or peppers would also be a delicious addition. If you find the taste of kale too overwhelming, spinach would be a great option as well. 

We found this dish to be extremely comforting. But tell us, what's your favorite comfort food dish? What do you turn to on cold, bleak days?

Stay Cool,
The Cool Dads Crew