Hearty Italian Sausage and Meatball Stew #Ragu

Ragú® Recipe Contest Entry. A nice thick tomato based soup loaded with Italian sausage, meatballs and vegetables. This is a wonderful meal for a cold day. Just add a salad and a hearty, crusty bread for dunking and you have a perfect meal.

• Ready In: 1 hr 10 mins
• Serves: 8
• Yields: 1 cup servings

Ingredients

• 3  tablespoons olive oil
• 1  medium onion, chopped
• 1  medium green bell pepper, chopped
• 1  medium zucchini, chopped
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 2  garlic cloves, peeled, smashed and minced
• 2  teaspoons  italian seasoning
• 1 (24 ounce) jar  Ragú® Pasta Sauce (meat creations sweet italian sausage and cheese sauce)
• 3 (14 1/2ounce) cans beef broth
• 1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans, undrained
• 1 (15 1/2ounce) can black beans, undrained
• 1 (14 1/2ounce) can  petite diced tomatoes, undrained
• 8  ounces  uncooked pasta (your favorite kind)
• 1  lb  sweet Italian sausage, cooked and sliced thin
• 1  lb  frozen prepared italian style  meatballs, thawed
• 2  tablespoons  grated parmesan cheese (garnish)

Directions

1. Place a 4-5 quart Dutch oven over medium high heat. Add the olive oil, onion, green pepper, zucchini and salt. Mix well. Cook for 6-8 minutes, stirring often, until just heated through. Add the garlic and Italian seasoning. Mix well. Add the Ragu sauce, beef broth, garbanzo beans, black beans and diced tomatoes. Mix well and bring to a simmer. Add the pasta and cook until pasta is al dente. Add the sausage and meatballs. Mix well and bring to a simmer to heat through.
2. Top each individual serving with grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.