Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Baked Spaghetti

It's been a long day, and I am tired. My go to meal? Spaghetti. When it's Matt making the meal (the only meal he can make, even if he doesn't spice it up), it's regular seashell spaghetti. Made like regular spaghetti, but with the seashell noodles. We like it better. However, when I make it, I like cheese (this is why I'm fat?). So, I make a baked spaghetti. It looks to be a lot more hassle than it is, and I promise, it's worth it.

Here is the best part. Almost all of the main ingredients are from Aldi. Yes, Aldi! With the exception of the hamburger meat and specialty cheeses (Asiago and Parmesan) which are from Harris Teeter, this is an Aldi meal.

Ingredients:
1 Box of Pasta
1-2 Jars Pasta Sauce
1lb Hamburger Meat
3tsp Pre-minced Garlic or 6 Garlic Cloves, minced
1Tbsp Italian Seasoning
1/2Tbsp Red Pepper Flakes
2.5 Cups Mozzarella/Italian Cheeses
6Tbsp Cream Cheese

Optional:
Asiago Cheese
Parmesan Cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350

2. In a skillet brown hamburger meat with minced garlic, red pepper, and italian seasoning. (here are pictures of the seasonings and the type of pre-minced garlic.)
Baked SpaghettiBaked Spaghetti
Baked Spaghetti

3. Drain the excess grease


4. Stir the meat in with the pasta sauces. I am out of homemade, so I used my next fave. I prefer my spaghetti to be saucy, so I do two jars. If you prefer less sauce, use one.
(Spaghetti sauce is from Aldi)
Baked Spaghetti
Baked Spaghetti


5. Cook your pasta, al dente, according the the box, then drain.


6. Place cooked noodles in large bowl


7. Melt your cream cheese, 3Tbsp at a time, mixing with pasta
Baked Spaghetti


8. After the cream cheese is well blended, stir in 1 cup of Italian/Mozzarella cheese
Baked Spaghetti


9. Add in meat sauce, holding back 1 cup for topping, mix well
Baked Spaghetti


9. OPTIONAL mix in 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese
Baked Spaghetti


11. Spread evenly into a 9x13 baking dish
Baked Spaghetti


12. Cover the noodles with the extra sauce that you held back earlier
Baked Spaghetti


13. Spread 1.5cups of Italian/Mozzarella cheese on top, evenly
Baked Spaghetti


14. OPTIONAL: Sprinkle lightly with Parmesan and Asiago Cheeses
Baked Spaghetti


15. Cook, covered, for 30 minutes
Baked Spaghetti


16. Let stand for 15 minutes, to setting. Then serve and enjoy!
Baked Spaghetti

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