What Are Some Delicious Italian Casserole Recipes?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The thread explores various Italian casserole recipes that participants have tried or are interested in, with a focus on main dish options suitable for hosting. Participants share their personal experiences with specific recipes and cooking methods.

Discussion Character

  • Anecdotal
  • Opinion-based

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, identifying as a consultant, mentions a request from a host for an Italian casserole dish and expresses difficulty in finding one.
  • Another participant shares their experience with an Italian Sausage Calzone, noting it was a hit at their show, and suggests other options like upside-down lasagna and pasta roll-ups.
  • One participant describes their successful experience with a Cheesy Chicken Tortellini Bake, highlighting its popularity and how it led to a cookware purchase by the hostess.
  • Another participant expresses interest in the tortellini bake but mentions lacking the necessary cookware.
  • Several users provide detailed recipes for the Italian Sausage Calzone, including ingredients and preparation steps.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

No clear consensus emerges regarding a specific casserole recipe, as participants share different dishes and experiences without agreement on a single option.

Contextual Notes

Participants share personal cooking experiences and preferences, focusing on Italian-themed dishes that can be served at gatherings.

Who May Find This Useful

Consultants looking for ideas on Italian casserole dishes or those interested in sharing cooking experiences within the community may find this discussion beneficial.

redd3708
Messages
123
I have a Host that wants a main dish....as in an Italian Cassarole type dish. Are there any out there? I am having a hard time finding one. Thanks! :o
 
It isn't exactly a casserole, but there is one for Italian Sausage Calzone which is great. You make it on the rectangle stone. I made it at my last show for the first time and it was a big hit. I also thought about the upside-down lasagna or pasta roll-ups.

Jeanie Gay
 
What about Cheesy Chicken Tortellini Bake........I did this recipe and did a double batch as she was expecting allot, ended up she had cancellations, but the hubby's had stuck around, so we ended up with nothing left. Showed the cookware and how nice it was to clean up and the hostesses hubby who is TOTALLY against spending $, allowed her to get the big family skillet and lid. She was thrilled.

HTH,
Lisa

(PS, she's also not a fan of peas, so she takes broc. and partially cooks it and throws that in when called for peas and they say it's great)

Cheesy Chicken Tortellini Bake The Pampered Chef®
Stoneware Inspirations Cookbook Page 65
Cubed cooked chicken and refrigerated tortellini make a quick, comforting casserole.
Prep and cook time: 10 minutes Bake time: 5-20 minutes

Pasta Mixture
½ cup chopped onion
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 garlic clove, pressed
1 jar (16 oz) white Alfredo pasta sauce
2 pkg (9oz ea) refrigerated cheese-filled regular or spinach tortellini
1 ½ cup cubed cooked chicken
1 cup milk
1 cup water
1 cup frozen peas
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoon snipped fresh basil leaves or 1 teaspoon dried basil leaves

Crumb Topping
¼ cup (1 oz) grated fresh Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoon butter or margarine, melted
1 cup fresh bread crumbs

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400F. For pasta mixture, chop onion using Food Chopper. In Professional (4-qt.) Casserole, heat oil over medium-high heat; add onion and garlic pressed with Garlic Press. Cook and stir 2-3 minutes or until onion is tender. Stir in pasta sauce, tortellini, chicken, milk, water, peas and black pepper. Heat until mixture just comes to a boil; remove from heat. Stir basil into pasta mixture.

Meanwhile, for crumb topping, grate Parmesan cheese using Deluxe Cheese Grater. Place butter in Small Micro Cooker; microwave on HIGH 30-45 second or until melted. Stir in bread crumbs and cheese; mix well.

Spoon pasta mixture into Square Baker; sprinkle with crumb topping. Bake 15-20 minutes or until edges are bubbly and topping is golden brown. Yield: 6 servings

Nutrients per servings: Calories 550, Total Fat 24 g, Saturated Fat 12 g, Cholesterol 110mg, Carbohydrate 54g, Protein 28g, Sodium 1150 mg, Fiber 4 g Diabetic exchanges per serving: 3 starch, 1 vegetable, 2 ½ high-fat meat (3 carb)
Cook’s Tips
Alfredo sauce in a jar can be found in the pasta sauce section of the supermarket. Do not substitute refrigerated Alfredo sauce; it may separate and curdle during baking. Use the Deluxe Cheese Grater fitted with coarse grating drum to quickly grate bread for fresh bread crumbs.To quickly snip basil leaves, stack the leaves and roll them up into a tight cylinder. Using the chef’s Knife, slice the roll crosswise into thin strips. Separate strands and snip them using Kitchen Shears.
 
  • Thread starter
  • #4
pcjeanie said:
It isn't exactly a casserole, but there is one for Italian Sausage Calzone which is great. You make it on the rectangle stone. I made it at my last show for the first time and it was a big hit. I also thought about the upside-down lasagna or pasta roll-ups.

Jeanie Gay

Can I get the recipes for these meals? And the tortellini bake sounds fabulous...but I don't have any of the cookware. :o
 
Here you go!The Pampered Chef ®
Italian Sausage Side-by-Side Calzones
Recipe


1/2 cup (125 mL) chopped onion
1 lb (500 g) hot turkey Italian sausage
1/2 cup (125 mL) diced green pepper
1/2 cup (125 mL) pitted ripe olives, sliced
1 can (213 mL) pizza sauce
1 clove garlic, pressed
2 pkgs (283 g each) refrigerated pizza crust
4 oz (125 g) shredded mozzarella cheese (1 cup/250 mL)
1 tbsp (15 mL) Pantry Basil Oil
1 oz (30 g) grated fresh Parmesan cheese (¼ cup/50 mL)



Preheat oven to 400°F/200°C. Chop onion using Food Chopper. Remove casings from sausage; discard casings. Cook sausage and onion in Large (12-inch/30 cm) Skillet over medium-high heat 8-10 minutes or until sausage is lightly browned and no longer pink, breaking into crumbles. Drain and set aside.


Dice green pepper using Chef's Knife. Slice olives using Egg Slicer Plus®. In Classic Batter Bowl, combine sausage mixture, green pepper, olives, pizza sauce and garlic pressed with Garlic Press; mix well.


Lightly flour Rectangle Stone. Unroll one package of pizza crust across baking stone. Gently stretch dough into a 10 x 14-inch/25 x 35 cm rectangle. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over dough to form two lengthwise strips, leaving a 2-inch/5 cm separation down centre and a 1-inch/2.5 cm border around outside edges. Using Large Scoop, scoop filling mixture evenly over both strips of cheese. Unroll second package of pizza crust and carefully place over filling. Match edges of dough around edges; press to seal around edges and down centre.


Using Pizza Cutter, cut down centre of dough to form two strips. Lightly spray dough with basil oil using Kitchen Spritzer. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.


Using Serrated Bread Knife, cut five 2-inch/5 cm slits in each of the calzones to vent. Bake 22-25 minutes or until deep golden brown. Remove from oven to Stackable Cooling Rack; cool 10 minutes. Cut calzones into strips and serve warm.



Yield: 24 servings


Per serving: Calories 120, Total Fat 4.5 g, Saturated Fat 1 g, Cholesterol 25 mg, Sodium 390 mg, Carbohydrate 13 g, Fibre less than 1 g, Protein 7 g


Cook's Tip: To remove casings from sausage, cut a lengthwise slit down one side of each link using the Utility Knife.

Substitute 1 tbsp/15 mL olive oil for the Pantry Basil Oil, if desired.


© The Pampered Chef—CANADA, Ltd.,
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
  • Thread starter
  • #6
Thanks!!!
kcjodih said:
The Pampered Chef ®
Italian Sausage Side-by-Side Calzones
Recipe


1/2 cup (125 mL) chopped onion
1 lb (500 g) hot turkey Italian sausage
1/2 cup (125 mL) diced green pepper
1/2 cup (125 mL) pitted ripe olives, sliced
1 can (213 mL) pizza sauce
1 clove garlic, pressed
2 pkgs (283 g each) refrigerated pizza crust
4 oz (125 g) shredded mozzarella cheese (1 cup/250 mL)
1 tbsp (15 mL) Pantry Basil Oil
1 oz (30 g) grated fresh Parmesan cheese (¼ cup/50 mL)



Preheat oven to 400°F/200°C. Chop onion using Food Chopper. Remove casings from sausage; discard casings. Cook sausage and onion in Large (12-inch/30 cm) Skillet over medium-high heat 8-10 minutes or until sausage is lightly browned and no longer pink, breaking into crumbles. Drain and set aside.


Dice green pepper using Chef's Knife. Slice olives using Egg Slicer Plus®. In Classic Batter Bowl, combine sausage mixture, green pepper, olives, pizza sauce and garlic pressed with Garlic Press; mix well.


Lightly flour Rectangle Stone. Unroll one package of pizza crust across baking stone. Gently stretch dough into a 10 x 14-inch/25 x 35 cm rectangle. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over dough to form two lengthwise strips, leaving a 2-inch/5 cm separation down centre and a 1-inch/2.5 cm border around outside edges. Using Large Scoop, scoop filling mixture evenly over both strips of cheese. Unroll second package of pizza crust and carefully place over filling. Match edges of dough around edges; press to seal around edges and down centre.


Using Pizza Cutter, cut down centre of dough to form two strips. Lightly spray dough with basil oil using Kitchen Spritzer. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.


Using Serrated Bread Knife, cut five 2-inch/5 cm slits in each of the calzones to vent. Bake 22-25 minutes or until deep golden brown. Remove from oven to Stackable Cooling Rack; cool 10 minutes. Cut calzones into strips and serve warm.



Yield: 24 servings


Per serving: Calories 120, Total Fat 4.5 g, Saturated Fat 1 g, Cholesterol 25 mg, Sodium 390 mg, Carbohydrate 13 g, Fibre less than 1 g, Protein 7 g


Cook's Tip: To remove casings from sausage, cut a lengthwise slit down one side of each link using the Utility Knife.

Substitute 1 tbsp/15 mL olive oil for the Pantry Basil Oil, if desired.


© The Pampered Chef—CANADA, Ltd.,
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks a lot! I appreciate it! But I do have one question....is there a substitute for the pantry basil oil?
 
Just use olive oil in place of the basil oil. ;)
 
Hi there! As a fellow Pampered Chef consultant, I have a delicious Italian Casserole recipe that I think your host will love! It's called "Baked Ziti Casserole" and it's a crowd-pleasing dish that is perfect for a main course. Here's the recipe:Ingredients:
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 1 jar (24 ounces) of your favorite marinara sauce
- 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheeseInstructions:
1. Preheat your oven to 375°F.
2. Cook the ziti pasta according to package instructions, but only for about 7 minutes (it will finish cooking in the oven).
3. In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat. Add in the diced onion, garlic, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Cook until the onion is softened and the beef is fully cooked.
4. Stir in the jar of marinara sauce and diced tomatoes. Let the mixture simmer for about 5 minutes.
5. In a 9x13 inch baking dish, spread a layer of the meat sauce on the bottom. Then add a layer of the partially cooked ziti pasta on top. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese.
6. Repeat layers until all of the ingredients are used up, ending with a layer of cheese on top.
7. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Then remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
8. Let the casserole cool for a few minutes before serving. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese before serving.I hope your host enjoys this delicious Italian Casserole! Let me know if you have any questions or if you need any additional recipes. Happy cooking! :)
 

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some easy Italian casserole recipes for beginners?

For beginners, a simple Italian casserole recipe to try is the classic Italian Sausage and Pasta Bake. You can use cooked pasta, Italian sausage, marinara sauce, and cheese layered together and baked until bubbly. Another easy option is a Caprese Casserole, which includes layers of tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze.

Can I make an Italian casserole ahead of time?

Yes, many Italian casseroles can be made ahead of time. You can prepare the casserole, assemble all the ingredients, and then refrigerate it until you're ready to bake. Just be sure to adjust the baking time if you're cooking it straight from the fridge, as it may take longer to heat through.

What ingredients are commonly used in Italian casseroles?

Common ingredients in Italian casseroles include pasta, rice, various meats like sausage or chicken, vegetables such as spinach or zucchini, marinara or Alfredo sauce, and a variety of cheeses like mozzarella, ricotta, and Parmesan. Fresh herbs like basil and oregano are also frequently used for added flavor.

Are there vegetarian Italian casserole options?

Absolutely! Vegetarian Italian casseroles can be delicious and satisfying. Consider making a Vegetable Lasagna with layers of roasted vegetables, ricotta, marinara sauce, and mozzarella cheese. Another option is a Spinach and Ricotta Pasta Bake, which combines cooked pasta, spinach, ricotta, marinara sauce, and cheese.

How can I make my Italian casserole healthier?

To make your Italian casserole healthier, consider using whole grain pasta or brown rice instead of white pasta or rice. You can also increase the vegetable content by adding more veggies like bell peppers, zucchini, or mushrooms. Opt for leaner meats or plant-based proteins, and use low-fat cheese or reduce the amount of cheese to cut down on calories and fat.

Similar Pampered Chef Threads

  • ChefDode
  • Pampered Chef Recipes
Replies
13
Views
3K
flemings99
  • Dotty
  • Pampered Chef Recipes
Replies
7
Views
2K
rlombas
  • melissainohio
  • Pampered Chef Shows
Replies
15
Views
3K
bsaxman
Replies
2
Views
8K
Alicia Messenger
  • WendyE
  • Pampered Chef Recipes
Replies
2
Views
1K
wadesgirl
Replies
2
Views
3K
Amyskitchen2
Replies
8
Views
3K
munkee41182
  • Kisha1210
  • Pampered Chef Recipes
Replies
4
Views
2K
Amanda Goode
Replies
4
Views
2K
jbachen
  • kreaser
  • Recipes and Tips
Replies
6
Views
4K
esavvymom
Back
Top