As soon as I used to be a baby, my sisters and I on a regular basis appeared forward to our birthdays because of they received right here with some explicit perks and privileges. Sure, the presents had been good, nonetheless I truly appeared forward to three food-related selections we had been allowed to make on our giant day: our birthday cake style (Funfetti or Dairy Queen Ice Cream Cake for me, please!), the birthday cope with we’d take to highschool (Mom’s Mud Cups had been on a regular basis successful), and the venue for our birthday dinner. As an actual little one of many Midwest suburbs, for a lot of years all through my pre-teen and teenage interval, my select was on a regular basis Olive Yard.
From the first buttery breadstick to the handful of Andes Mints we’d on a regular basis get with our bill, I treasured every second at this Italian-American chain; cozied proper right into a gross sales area with my two older sisters and parents. It doesn’t matter what I’d order for my important, I consider on a regular basis having enjoyable with starting my meal with a bowl of minestrone soup.
Although it’s been a pair a very long time since I remaining stepped foot in an Olive Yard, as soon as I seen our brand-new (Check out Kitchen-approved) Minestrone Casserole, I knew I wanted to attempt it to feed my little one at coronary coronary heart.
Dotdash Meredith Meals Studios
What Is Minestrone Casserole?
In response to recipe developer Sarah Brekke, “this minestrone casserole, with up to date greens, canned beans, and pasta in a tomato sauce, topped with mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, is a delicious new twist on minestrone soup.”
It combines the right parts of the veggie-packed soup with a baked pasta casserole. Plus, it’s budget-friendly and easy to execute. The weather are almost fully freezer and pantry staples. Along with some canned tomatoes and beans, the aforementioned mini lasagna pasta, and cheese, this easy dinner recipe choices just some completely totally different greens in order so as to add style, texture, shade, and vitamin. Which suggests it’s a stellar clean-out-the-crisper-drawer dinner (or a quick categorical lane grocery retailer go to)
As shortly as I seen that this vegetarian dinner thought solely requested for 20 minutes of hands-on time, I hustled to grab my apron so I’ll recreate it.
Serving Solutions
With the protein from the beans, fiber, dietary nutritional vitamins, and minerals from the veggies, carbs from the pasta, and fat from the cheese and olive oil, it’s a full meal in itself.
Nevertheless now that I’ve dusted off my love for OG, I couldn’t resist rounding out my meal with Copycat Olive Yard Salad, Breadsticks, and—as a hat tip to the right free chain restaurant dessert—Andes Mint Cookies. It needn’t be your birthday to watch go effectively with.
How one can Make Minestrone Casserole
Dotdash Meredith Meals Studios
Whipping up this casserole is quicker and easier than snagging a gross sales area at my hometown Olive Yard after 5 p.m.
Merely put together dinner the pasta and the up to date veggies, then toss them in an enormous bowl with the canned tomatoes, frozen inexperienced beans, and canned beans. Throw in some Parmesan and seasonings, then bake (lined with foil) in your trusty 9×13-inch baking dish. When it’s largely cooked, take away the foil, sprinkle with mozzarella, and return to the oven—when the cheese is melted, garnish and mangiare (“eat up!”).
Get the recipe: Minestrone Casserole