I love this recipe that Eat at Home writer, Kim brings us today!
I love Italian sausage, and use it in the place of, or in addition to, ground beef in many recipes. I also really like Italian sausage subs. You can usually substitute it in the place of meatballs on a meatball sub or chicken in a chicken parm sub. I can not tell you how many of these I ate during my first pregnancy! Maybe that’s why my oldest loves sausage. This recipe is basically a sub sandwich in casserole form, and comes together quickly and easily.
I used a cheese bread loaf purchased from my grocery store’s deli, but any good thick bread will work. You can’t have too much cheese in my house! I also used turkey Italian sausage, reduced fat cream cheese and light mayo to cut the calories a little. You can use your favorites. Speaking of favorites, the sauce pictured – Newman’s Own Sockarooni, I highly recommend it!
I usually cut this recipe in half, so pictured is an 8 x 8. The recipe below is for a 9 x 13 casserole dish. You could also add peppers and onions, but I have to pass on that to get my kids to eat it. I even have to puree my sauce so there are no chunks! Any one else have super picky eaters?
Italian Sausage Sub Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 package Italian Sausage links 4-5 links
- 1 1 pound loaf Italian bread
- Olive oil for coating bread
- garlic powder optional
- 1 8 ounce brick Cream Cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ground black pepper to taste
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided
- 1 28 ounce jar spaghetti sauce
- 1/4 cup water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Cook Italian sausage links according to package directions. Cut into 1 inch chunks.
- While sausage is cooking, slice bread into 1 1/2 inch slices. Spray or brush with olive oil. Sprinkle with garlic powder. Broil until lightly toasted on each side.
- Place toasted bread in a single layer in a 9 x 13 casserole dish.
- In a small bowl, combine cream cheese, mayo, Italian seasoning and pepper.
- Spread cream cheese mixture over bread, and top with 1/2 the cheese.
- Place Italian sausage over cheese.
- Pour spaghetti sauce and water over the sausage and top with remaining cheese.
- Bake for 30 minutes, uncovered.
I do love a casserole, and this one is a keeper!
Kim M. is a contributing writer for Eat at Home, as well as the mom behind the mayhem at Makin’ it Mo’Betta. There you will find kid-friendly recipes, quick and easy meals, and lots of desserts!