Penne Pasta with Squash, Zucchini, and Olives

Penne pasta is layered with pasta sauce, yellow squash, zucchini, and black olives in this meaty, cheesy casserole that's sure to satisfy.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 1 hr 9 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 29 mins
• Calories: 725 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1 (4 ounce) can whole black olives
• 1 (4 ounce) can sliced black olives
• 1 pound bulk Italian sausage
• 2 zucchini, diced
• 1 (16 ounce) package whole grain penne pasta
• 2 yellow squash, diced
• 2 (24 ounce) jars pasta sauce, divided

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil; add penne and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain.

Step 2

Cook and stir ground beef and Italian sausage in a skillet until browned and crumbly, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl using a slotted spoon. Drain excess grease, reserving 1 tablespoon in the skillet.

Step 3

Cook and stir zucchini and yellow squash in the reserved grease until slightly softened, about 5 minutes.

Step 4

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spread 3/4 cup pasta sauce in the bottom of a 9x11-inch casserole dish.

Step 5

Pour remaining pasta sauce into a Dutch oven over medium heat. Stir in zucchini and yellow squash, whole olives, and sliced olives. Cook and stir until pasta sauce is heated through, about 10 minutes.

Step 6

Layer half of the ground meat mixture, penne, hot pasta sauce, Cheddar cheese, and mozzarella cheese over the pasta sauce in the casserole dish. Repeat layers once more.

Step 7

Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted and layers are heated through, about 30 minutes.