Spook-Tacular Smoked Casserole (Halloween)

ChefDLH's Note:

I love making holiday recipes to go with our family festivities.Found this in a fall 2009 magazine. A hearty meal to go with a salad that is quick and easy for before trick or treating on Halloween evening or any night for that matter. ChefDLH

• Total Time: 55 mins
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 6

• 1 (16 ounce) package hillshire farm smoked sausage
• 1 (10 3/4 ounce) can cream of mushroom soup
• 2 1/2 cups milk
• 2 1/2 cups uncooked penne pasta
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 1/2 cups French-fried onions
• 1 cup frozen peas

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F Cut sausage into 1/4" slices
2. heat a large skillet over medium heat for 3 minutes. Add sausage and cook and stir for 3 to 4 minutes or until lightly browned.
3. Combine soup and milk in 13x9 inch 3-qt. casserole. Stir in uncooked pasta, sausage, 1/2 cup cheese, 1/2 cup French Fried Onions and peas.
4. Bake 45 minutes covered tightly with foil.
5. Remove foil and top with remaining 1/2 cup cheese and 1 cup french fried onions.
6. Bake 3 minutes until cheese is melted.
7. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

Reviews

[Chef #1406092]

I made this recipe yesterday for my family and they all came back for seconds. It was delicious! I used frozen chopped broccoli in place of peas because that is what I had on hand, and it worked out well. Great!

[shortcakes]

I found this recipe as well, in a Hilshire Farms insert inside my Food Network magazine. I knew I had to try it right away. However, after making it I've come to the conclusion that this was not a kitchen tested recipe before being published. After baking my casserole for 45 minutes tightly covered in foil, the liquid had evaporated and my pasta was only half cooked. I added 1 1/2 cups of water and put it back in the oven for another 30 minutes. This time the pasta was perfectly done, but I felt the added liquids watered down the soup flavoring making it bland. Some added seasoning and this recipe would shine.