My families favorite take on baked spaghetti. This recipe feeds large families (6 of us and we can eat seconds and still all have plenty of leftovers the next day.) Adjust the amounts to your family size. This costs about $20, lasts two days so $10 a day to feed 6 people.
Brown 2 pounds ground beef with a diced onion, cut up a green pepper and sautee on the side. In a separate pan take a 45 oz can of your favorite pasta sauce ( I use tomato, garlic and onion ragu) and mix with a 28 oz can of diced tomatoes (I use basil, garlic and oregano and do not drain). Add in ground beef and onion. Simmer. I also add a little sugar to the sauce. Add green peppers in towards the end. Simmer some more. Mix with 2 boxes of rotini. Top with shredded parm and mozzarella and bake at 375 until melty lol.
Baked Spaghetti Casserole for Large Families
Servings: 12-15
Ingredients:
- 4 pounds ground beef
- 2 large onions, diced
- 2 green peppers, diced
- 2 (45 oz) cans of your favorite pasta sauce (e.g., tomato, garlic, and onion)
- 2 (28 oz) cans of diced tomatoes with basil, garlic, and oregano (not drained)
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 4 boxes (16 oz each) of rotini pasta
- 4 cups shredded Parmesan cheese
- 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease two large baking dishes or casseroles.
- In a large skillet or frying pan, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat. Drain excess fat if necessary.
- Add diced onions to the ground beef and continue cooking until onions are translucent.
- In a separate pan, sauté diced green peppers until they are slightly softened. Set aside.
- In a large pot, combine the pasta sauce and diced tomatoes. Add the browned ground beef and onions mixture. Stir well.
- Add sugar to the sauce and stir until dissolved. Allow the sauce to simmer for about 10 minutes.
- Add the sautéed green peppers to the sauce mixture and let it simmer for an additional 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, cook the rotini pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain well.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta and the sauce mixture. Mix until the pasta is evenly coated with the sauce.
- Divide the mixture evenly between the prepared baking dishes.
- Sprinkle shredded Parmesan cheese and shredded mozzarella cheese over the top of each casserole.
- Cover the baking dishes with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Remove the foil and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown and slightly crispy.
- Let the baked spaghetti casseroles cool for a few minutes before serving.
Enjoy your delicious baked spaghetti casserole, perfect for feeding large families and providing leftovers for the next day!
