Pioneer Woman's Sour Cream Noodle Bake

Sour Cream Noodle Bake

Prep: 10 Minutes	Level: Easy
Cook: 20 Minutes	Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 1-1/4 pound Ground Chuck
• 1 can 15-ounces Tomato Sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
•  Freshly Ground Black Pepper
• 8 ounces, weight Egg Noodles
• 1/2 cup Sour Cream
• 1-1/4 cup Small Curd Cottage Cheese
• 1/2 cup Sliced Green Onions (less To Taste)
• 1 cup Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Brown ground chuck in a large skillet. Drain fat, then add tomato sauce. 1/2 teaspoon salt and plenty of freshly ground black pepper. Stir, then simmer while you prepare the other ingredients. 

Cook egg noodles until al dente. Drain and set aside. 

In a medium bowl, combine sour cream and cottage cheese. Add plenty of freshly ground black pepper. Add to noodles and stir. Add green onions and stir. 

To assemble, add half of the noodles to a baking dish. Top with half the meat mixture, then sprinkle on half the grated cheddar. Repeat with noodles, meat, then a final layer of cheese. Bake for 20 minutes, or until all cheese is melted. 

Serve with crusty French bread.

Source: http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/sour-cream-noodle-bake/

Three-Cheese Baked Spaghetti

Three-Cheese Baked Spaghetti (from www.tammysrecipes.com)
Recipe Name: Three-Cheese Baked Spaghetti
Picture: Three-Cheese Baked Spaghetti

Description:

Spaghetti pasta tossed with three cheeses, topped with a meat sauce and baked
Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients:

Pasta Ingredients:

8 ounces spaghetti
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons dried parsley
1 cup cottage cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
6 ounces (1 1/2 cups) shredded mozzarella cheese*
2 ounces crumbled feta cheese, optional

Sauce Ingredients:

8 ounces ground beef
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 onion, chopped
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
3 cups spaghetti sauce
1/2 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
2 ounces (1/2 cup) shredded mozzarella cheese, optional
Instructions:

1. Cook spaghetti according to package directions (al dente). Drain and return to pan (remove from heat though!). Add butter and stir until butter is melted. Add remaining pasta ingredients, stirring to combine. Spread pasta-cheese mixture in the bottom of a greased 8-inch square baking dish.
The bottom layer of three-cheese baked spaghetti

2. Brown ground beef with the garlic and onion. Drain grease and return to pan. Add pepper, spaghetti sauce, sugar, and Italian seasoning. Stir well and then pour over the pasta, spreading evenly. Sprinkle cheese on top if desired.
Three-cheese baked spaghetti, ready to be baked

3. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until top cheese is browned and spaghetti is bubbly.
Three-cheese baked spaghetti
Additional Notes:

*If desired, substitute part of the mozzarella cheese with shredded cheddar cheese.

This recipe is based on "Old Country Baked Spaghetti" from the Little Red Hens blog. Measurements, instructions, and photos are all mine. :)
Preparation Time: 30-40 minutes
Cooking Time: 35 minutes
Tammy's Review:

This is the BEST spaghetti recipe!! When I first made it, I was expecting a so-so easy version of one of our favorite meals. As I was mixing the pasta and cheeses, I tasted some of it, and it was SO yummy! I think I could have eaten the pasta just by itself, before baking. ;)

The original recipe didn't call for the meat and sauce to be baked too, but since my husband doesn't like dry pasta (from being baked uncovered) and I like easy, one-dish baked meals, I decided to make it into a complete "spaghetti and meatball casserole".

It turned out perfectly. At first we thought it might be a little too runny, but as soon as it cooled slightly on our plates, we saw that it was a perfect saucy spaghetti. We tasted it and decided that this is our new way of making spaghetti!

I love that it's a baked meal, since that means I can wash the dishes while the food is in the oven, or make it up ahead of time instead of last-minute, trying to keep the pasta hot and cooking the sauce and meat in another pan.

This recipe is great. Served with a green salad and/or green vegetable and some fresh bread, this meal is perfect for a busy night's dinner or for sharing with guests. My rating: 10/10