Saucy, meaty, tacky, and scrumptious, this make-ahead casserole is a longtime favourite that’s excellent for household dinners, informal entertaining, potlucks, and anytime you should take a meal to a buddy.
My clearest reminiscences of this spaghetti casserole is consuming it within the days after my first son was born.
Appreciating the sleep-deprived state of very new mothers–who may hardly take a bathe, not to mention prepare dinner a meal–my mother-in-law delivered a casserole the day we returned from the hospital. My husband and I ate the spaghetti for days in a row, and it simply stored tasting higher and higher!
Spaghetti casserole is a kind of recipes that has actually stood the check of time and been handed amongst numerous recipe containers. The tried-and-true recipe was given to me by my mother-in-law as a newlywed. She had gotten it from Eileen, her long-time neighbor, and all of us continued to share when the recipe was inevitably requested.
Like lasagna (however even simpler), the recipe requires some prep–boiling the noodles, simmering the meaty sauce, after which layering these parts within the baking dish with the cheese. As soon as assembled, the casserole could also be baked straight away or refrigerated for later. The spaghetti casserole freezes properly too.
Good for household dinners, potlucks, and anytime you want a meal to take to a buddy, the recipe fills a 9×13 pan and tastes nice leftover. A inexperienced salad and loaf of bread full the meal fantastically.
Extra not too long ago, my household has loved the spaghetti with Fast Collard Greens as a substitute of a salad. Parmesan Garlic Bread is a longtime favourite as properly, and I like that the unfold might be ready properly prematurely. (When grilling season arrives, know that the tacky unfold will even make leftover sizzling canine rolls style nice!)
For individuals who get pleasure from seeing me make the recipe, a fast video and picture illustration observe. When you make the spaghetti casserole, please come again and remark or take a photograph and tag me on Fb or Instagram. I all the time respect the suggestions!
One thing inexperienced, be it a salad or vegetable of selection, completes the meal properly. Bread is a pleasant choice as properly.
Spaghetti Casserole
Basic Italian flavors come collectively simply in casserole kind for a dish the entire household will get pleasure from.
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- 1½ kilos lean floor beef
- 1 cup diced yellow onion
- 1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes, with juices (or complete tomatoes, minimize up)
- 1 (24-28-ounce) jar spaghetti sauce (I prefer it a little bit saucier, but when your favourite jarred pasta is available in a 24-ounce jar, the end result will nonetheless be good.)
- 5-6 ounces (about 2 cups) contemporary, sliced mushrooms (might omit if not a fan)
- 1½ teaspoons dried oregano
- 1½ teaspoons kosher salt (use ¼ teaspoon much less if utilizing desk salt)
- 1 teaspoon (4g) sugar*
- 8 ounces spaghetti**, damaged in thirds (use gluten-free, if wanted)
- 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese
- ⅓ cup (27g) grated Parmesan cheese
- Parsley for garnish (optionally available)
- Cook dinner the sauce: In a 14-inch skillet or deep saucepan (a typical 12-inch skillet will probably be very full on the finish), sauté the bottom beef and onions till the meat is now not pink. Drain if essential. Stir within the tomatoes with their juices, spaghetti sauce, mushrooms, and seasonings. Convey to a boil, after which cut back the warmth and preserve a mild simmer for 20 minutes, uncovered. (Tip: You need the wateriness of the diced tomato juice to pay attention, however to take care of a superb stage of sauciness within the remaining product, you don’t need the sauce to cut back and thicken an excessive amount of.)
- Cook dinner the pasta: In the meantime, prepare dinner the damaged pasta in salted water in response to bundle instructions. Drain properly.
- Assemble the casserole: Take away the sauce from the warmth and stir within the spaghetti. Place half of the combination in a 9×13 baking dish (I don’t grease), after which sprinkle with half of the mozzarella. Repeat with the remaining spaghetti combination and cheese. Sprinkle the Parmesan on prime.
- Make-ahead tip: At this level, the casserole could also be cooled, coated, and refrigerated for a number of days or frozen for a number of months.
- Bake: Preheat the oven to 375℉ and bake, uncovered, for 20-Half-hour, or till sizzling all through and frivolously golden on prime. If the casserole has been refrigerated, let it sit at room temperature whereas the oven is preheating and prepare dinner for a number of additional minutes, as wanted. If frozen, thaw fully earlier than baking.
- Serve: Garnish with optionally available contemporary parsley and serve.
- Storage: Refrigerate leftovers, coated or in an hermetic container, for as much as 5 days.
** A half pound of spaghetti won’t appear to be loads for an entire casserole, however don’t concern. It’s loads. When you use extra, the steadiness of sauce and meat to noodles will probably be thrown off.
Variations:
- For a saucier finish outcome, you would enhance the marinara sauce to 4 cups, or serve with additional of your favourite sauce on the aspect.
- Use a mixture of floor beef and Italian sausage.
- Substitute dried Italian seasoning for the dried oregano or use 1½ tablespoons minced contemporary oregano.
- Exchange the shredded mozzarella cheese with an Italian mix.