Title: |
Mommy Casserole |
Dish: |
Entrees |
Dish Type: |
Pastas & Noodles |
Cooking Method: |
Baked |
Difficulty: |
1 / 10 |
Servings: |
4-6 |
Prep Time: |
20 min |
Cook Time: |
30-40 min |
|
Ingredients
-
1 pound - Elbow macaroni or pasta of choice, cooked to just barely "al dente"
-
1 pound - Ground Beef, crumbled, browned, and drained of excess fat
-
2 1/2 cups - Shredded cheese of your choice (I use 4 Cheese Mexican Blend)
-
1 15 oz can - Diced tomatoes, flavor of your choice (I use Hunt's celery and onion)
-
1 can/jar - Sliced mushrooms (optional)
-
1 26 oz jar/can - Your favorite prepared spaghetti sauce (I use Hunt's Four Cheese in a can)
Directions
Combine all ingredients except ½ cup shredded cheese. Pour into a 2-3qt. greased casserole dish or baking pan. Cover with greased aluminum foil. Bake at 375˚ for 30-40 minutes, until center of casserole is heated through. Remove foil and sprinkle with reserved cheese. Return to oven for 5 minutes or until cheese on top is melted. Serve with a side salad for a simple, delicious meal! This can also be refrigerated or frozen and thawed and then cooked, but increase the cooking time to 40 minutes to an hour and make sure it's warm all the way through before sprinkling with the shredded cheese and returning to the oven for the last 5 minutes.
Notes
This recipe was first created by my grandmother in the 1920’s, using home-canned tomatoes and tomato sauce. She passed it on to my mother, who adjusted it by using tomato products that were commercially available in her era, and now I have once again adjusted it to reflect my family’s taste preferences. It is a quick, easy, and satisfying meal, guaranteed to give you a “warm belly,” as my husband says!