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Italian Sausage and Eggplant Casserole

Italian Sausage and Eggplant Casserole – Layers of delicious Italian Sausage and eggplant slices covered in white (Bechamel) sauce and gooey cheese.

Italian Sausage and Eggplant Casserole | www.diethood.com | Layers of delicious Italian Sausage and eggplant slices covered in white (Bechamel) sauce and gooey cheese.



Hello almost Casserole Season! I like you thiiiiiis much!
Friends, get your forks ready because this is going to be a GREAT one!

Oh, HEY! How’s it goin’? Did you sleep in? Go to Church? Sing in the shower?!? Whatever it was, I hope it made your Sunday that much better!

As far as I’m concerned – I know you didn’t ask, but still – I, my friends, am a little weirded out by the fact that August is coming to a close. SO soon?!? Ugh.
I got a glimpse of Fall just yesterday during Ana’s soccer game and it was aw.fall. <—Get it?! 😉
It was about 63°F, and it rained the entire time. Brrrrr! BUT, she scored 6 goals, so we’re even.

Italian Sausage and Eggplant Casserole | www.diethood.com | Layers of delicious Italian Sausage and eggplant slices covered in white (Bechamel) sauce and gooey cheese.

Today, though! Today, we are going to celebrate her 6th birthday, which happened like almost a month ago, but as all summer-born kids know, you HAVE TO have a birthday party when school is in session so your friends can all come. Duhhh… <—- Meant for me because I had no idea that this is what it was going to be like. HAD I KNOWN, I would have planned their birth-days a bit better. Ahem.

… Life With Kids … is that a movie title? It should be.

Okay. Food it is.

Italian Sausage and Eggplant Casserole | www.diethood.com | Layers of delicious Italian Sausage and eggplant slices covered in white (Bechamel) sauce and gooey cheese.

So. Let’s see. How can I make you start loving eggplant?

I think I KNOW!

Drown it in cheese and sauce and meat, and serve it all hot and bubbly. Kind of like today’s recipe with mildly spicy Italian sausage, and Bechamel sauce, and thin slices of eggplant.

You know what I didn’t expect? The sausage to completely take over and rise up as this meal’s superstar! I was counting more on the eggplant, but no siree bob. Sausage took over. Good news for those that don’t like veggies, right? Honestly, though, the slightly wilted taste and texture with the salty bite of the eggplant paired with the gooey white sauce was like heaven to me.

Béchamel sauce, also known as white sauce, is a classic French all-purpose sauce made from butter, flour, and milk.

Wanna know something else? Bechamel Sauce. That right there totally reminds me of the ’80s & ’90s because it’s what my Mom made whenever a dish called for sauce. It was her answer to anything that was a bit dry, including burgers and pastas. It’s super easy to make, and even easier to eat!

One more thing you should know. This meal kinda takes a while. You have to brown the sausage, slice the eggplants, make the sauce… layer it all… bake it… and TADA! My apologies beforehand – you know I love our 30-minute meals – but this is totally worth the extra 30+ minutes. I promise!

Italian Sausage and Eggplant Casserole | www.diethood.com | Layers of delicious Italian Sausage and eggplant slices covered in white (Bechamel) sauce and gooey cheese.

Okay, I gotta go party it up with the 6 year olds!

Have a great Sunday!!

ENJOY!

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Italian Sausage and Eggplant Casserole | www.diethood.com | Layers of delicious Italian Sausage and eggplant slices covered in white (Bechamel) sauce and gooey cheese.

Italian Sausage and Eggplant Casserole

Katerina | Diethood
Layers of Italian sausage and fresh eggplant slices covered in white (Bechamel) sauce and gooey cheese make up this Sausage and Eggplant Casserole. Drooling yet? Me too, let's get started on this hearty sausage casserole!
5 from 3 votes
Servings : 8
Prep Time 45 mins
Cook Time 45 mins
Total Time 1 hr 30 mins

Ingredients
  

  • 2 eggplants , sliced lengthwise, about 1/8-inch thickness (use a mandolin to get perfectly uniform slices)
  • salt
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1 yellow onion , diced
  • 2 garlic cloves , minced
  • pinch salt
  • 1 pound italian sausage , casings removed
  • 14.5 ounces diced tomatoes , undrained
  • Bechamel Sauce - click for recipe
  • 1 cup shredded Italian Blend Cheese

Instructions
 

  • Layer slices of eggplant on a large baking sheet; sprinkle each slice with salt and set aside.
  • Preheat oven to 400.
  • Heat olive oil in a large nonstick skillet.
  • Add onions and garlic; stir and cook for 1 minute.
  • Add sausage to skillet; continue to cook and stir occasionally for about 10 to 12 minutes, or until sausage is browned; drain.
  • Stir in diced tomatoes and set aside.
  • Heat 1/2 tablespoon olive oil in a nonstick skillet.
  • Pat dry the eggplant slices.
  • Add eggplant slices to skillet and cook just until lightly browned on both sides, about 1 to 2 minutes.
ASSEMBLE
  • Spread 1 cup of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.
  • Arrange about 6 slices of eggplant over meat sauce.
  • Add more meat sauce over eggplant.
  • Spread with 1/3 of Bechamel Sauce.
  • Repeat with 2 more layers, and top with remaining bechamel sauce.
  • Sprinkle with cheese.
  • Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until bubbly and top is lightly browned.
  • Remove from oven and let stand 15 minutes.
  • Serve.

Notes

You will need about 18 to 20 thin slices of eggplant, therefore, depending on the size, you might not end up using both eggplants.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 290 kcal | Carbohydrates: 11 g | Protein: 13 g | Fat: 22 g | Saturated Fat: 7 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9 g | Cholesterol: 46 mg | Sodium: 518 mg | Potassium: 525 mg | Fiber: 4 g | Sugar: 6 g | Vitamin A: 87 IU | Vitamin C: 10 mg | Calcium: 69 mg | Iron: 1 mg | Net Carbs: 7 g

Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.

Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: casserole with italian sausage, italian eggplant casserole, italian sausage casserole recipe, recipe for eggplant casserole
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21 comments on “Italian Sausage and Eggplant Casserole”

  1. I will place the eggplant on cooling racks and let drain for awhile next time. I did follow directions but, when I pulled this out of the oven it was watery. Used a baster to remove the liquid. I added a half teaspoon of Italian seasoning and some red pepper flakes to the meat mixture. I also used italian diced tomatoes which, I will also drain next time. I used a pound and 3/4 of meat. 1 pound wouldn’t have been enough to fill the men in the house. All that being said it was very flavorful!

  2. made this tonight and WOW! rave reviews! never going to serve 8 in our house! BTW, I will never figure out how anyone is able to lightly brown all that eggplant in 1/2 tbsp oil. We used a non-stick skillet, and lightly brushed the oil onto the pan before Eggplant is a sponge! Also, we used fruliano cheese on top.

  3. Omgosh…just served this for dinner and it will be going into the family favorite recipe file. Great recipe.

  4. Wonderful recipe! The sausage does bring it all together. Thank you. Enjoy Celebration of Creation today.

  5. Avatar photo
    Valerie | From Valerie's Kitchen

    This dish looks out-of-this-world good! I love bechamel and use it frequently in Italian dishes too. It adds such a nice creamy layer. Just lovely, Kate!

  6. Avatar photo
    Arman @ thebigmansworld

    ” and it was aw.fall. ”

    I hope Ana reads this one day 😀

    This is amazing and it would not surprise me if it would convert every individual under 6 into loving eggplant- A very difficult feat in itself!

  7. We went from 60 degree weather to a week long heat wave of 90s. I had to pull my shorts out again! I’m so conflicted.. I want fall but I want summer!

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