Sausage With Beans and Macaroni

Quite a tasty bean dish, you can use baby shells in place of the macaroni. This dish tastes even better the next day, so you might want to consider making it a day ahead. You can use 1 cup fresh basil in place of dry.

• Ready In: 1 hr 5 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 3 -4  tablespoons olive oil
• 1  large onion, chopped
• 2 -3  tablespoons  fresh minced garlic
• 1  jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped (optional)
• 1⁄2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 -2  teaspoon dried oregano
• 1  lb lean ground beef
• 4  large  hot Italian sausages, casings removed
• 2 (14 ounce) cans diced tomatoes (undrained)
• 2 (14 ounce) cans chicken broth
• 1 (15 ounce) can white kidney beans, drained
• 1  teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (or to taste)
• 1⁄2 cup macaroni noodles, uncooked
• 1 (6 ounce) package  baby spinach leaves
• 1⁄3-1⁄2 cup  grated parmesan cheese
•  salt and pepper

Directions

1. Heat oil in a Dutch oven or large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat.
2. Add in onion, garlic, dryed basil, oregano and jalapeno pepper (if using) saute for about 5-6 minutes.
3. Add in the ground beef and Italian sausage meat; cook (breaking up with a fork) for about 5-6 minutes.
4. Add in red pepper flakes to taste.
5. Add in tomatoes with juice, broth, beans; mix to combine and simmer for 35 minutes.
6. Add in uncooked macaroni pasta and cook until firm-tender (about 15 minutes).
7. Add in baby spinach, and cook until just wilted, stirring occasionally (about 5 minutes).
8. Add in 1/3 - 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, stir until combined.
9. Season with salt and pepper.
10. Ladle into bowls.
11. Sprinkle with more Parmesan cheese.
12. Top with more grated Parmesan cheese.