Kittencals Ground Beef Mushroom Pasta Casserole Food

CHEESY LAYERED GROUND BEEF AND PASTA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Set oven to 350 degrees.
• Grease a large lasagna dish.
• Cook the pasta until only firm-tender; drain (it does not have to measure exactly 4 cups cooked, careful not to overcook the pasta as it will cook more in the oven) drain and transfer to a bowl, toss with a couple tablespoons oil to prevent sticking; set aside.
• In a skillet, cook ground beef, onion, jalapenos (if using) mushrooms and minced garlic until meat is brown and cooked stir in 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, tomato sauce salt and pepper, stir until heated through (you can the sauce for up to 45 minutes on low heat).
• Spread 1/2 meat sauce on bottom of pan.
• Spread 1/2 noodles on top of sauce.
• Top noodles with 1 cup mozza cheese.
• Mix 1 cup cottage cheese with 1/2 cup sour cream and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese.
• Spread over mozzeralla cheese.
• Top with remaining tomato sauce, noodles,and remaining mozza cheese.
• Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese.
• Bake, covered for 20 mins, uncover casserole (at this point you can sprinkle with grated mozzeralla or cheddar cheese if desired).
• Return to oven to bake for another 10-15 mins, or until bubbly.

KITTENCAL'S LAYERED GROUND BEEF-PENNE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Grease a 13 x 9-inch baking dish.
• Cook the penne pasta in boiling water until just bendable (do not overcook the pasta until soft as it will cook more in the oven) drain well, then place the hot pasta into a large bowl.
• Mix in butter until melted, then mix in the softened cream cheese; set aside.
• In a skillet cook the ground beef with garlic and chili flakes until no longer pink; drain fat then continue to cook until browned.
• Add in pasta sauce and mushrooms; bring to a simmer over medium heat.
• Reduce heat to low and cook for about 20-30 minutes stirring occasionally, and season with salt and pepper to taste (if you find that the mixture is too thick add in 1/4 cup water and continue simmering for another 10 minutes).
• TO ASSEMBLE; spread HALF the meat sauce into baking dish, then top with all the penne pasta mixture, sprinkle 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese over the pasta, then 1 cup mozzarella cheese on top.
• Dollup remaining meat sauce on top then spread out using a spoon.
• Sprinkle 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese over the meat sauce, then 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese on top.
• Bake uncovered at 350 degrees F for about 40 minutes or until completely heated through and bubbly.

KITTENCAL'S GROUND BEEF-MUSHROOM PASTA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• In a medium pot cook the ground beef with onion until no longer pink; drain all fat.
• Add in garlic and chili flakes; cook stirring for 2 minutes.
• Add in 4-1/2 cups prepared pasta sauce and 1 teaspoon salt; bring to a simmer over medium heat.
• Reduce the heat to low and simmer uncovered for about 45 minutes stirring occasionally (if you find that the sauce is too thick add in water and continue cooking for another 20 minutes).
• Season with more salt if desired and black pepper about halfway through cooking.
• Meanwhile in a large pot cook the pasta in boiling water until about halfway cooked, leave fairly firm do not cook until soft as the pasta will cook more in the oven) drain and place into a large bowl.
• Add in the meat sauce, two cans drained mushrooms and 2 cups mozzarella cheese; mix until well combined.
• Spread into prepared baking dish.
• Sprinkle the parmesan cheese over the top.
• Cover with foil and bake for about 35-40 minutes.
• Sprinkle with 1 cup (or more) mozzarella cheese and return to oven uncovered for another 3-4 minutes.

KITTENCAL'S SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALL CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Grease a 13 x 9-inch baking dish.
• Prepare your own favorite meatball recipe, then shape into about 1-1/2-inch balls.
• Place the meatballs onto a greased baking sheet and bake until thoroughly cooked (about 22-25 minutes at 375 degrees) set the meatballs aside.
• Boil the spaghetti in a large pot of boiling water until just al dente; drain then place into a large bowl.
• Toss the spaghetti with 3 tablespoons oil; cool slightly, then add in eggs, 1-1/2 cups mozzeralla cheese, 1 cup Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper; using clean hands toss until thoroughly combined (you can use a spoon but hands are better!).
• Place the spaghetti into prepared baking dish, then press down slightly with hands.
• Scatter the cooked meatballs over the spaghetti.
• Top with spaghetti sauce over the top making certain to cover the pasta completely.
• Cover with foil and bake 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
• Remove from oven then sprinkle about 1-1/2 cups mozzeralla cheese (or amount desired) over the top, then return to oven uncovered for 3-5 minutes or until the cheese has melted.
• Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese if desired.

BEEF PENNE PASTA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Cook beef and onion in large saucepan stirring occasionally until beef is no longerpink.
• Add water tomato paste wine and boullion; cck stirring occasionally for 15- 20 minute.
• Layer in ungreased 13 x 19 inch baking dish 1/2 paste 1/2 sauce 1/2 cheese.
• Repeat layers cover and bake for 20-25 min or until heated through and cheese is melted.

KITTENCAL'S ITALIAN TOMATO PASTA SAUCE AND PARMESAN MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Prepare the meatball recipe as directed on the recipe; transfer to a plate cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use (the meatballs may be prepared up to 1 day in advance).
• Drain the diced tomatoes over a strainer.
• Coat bottom of large heavy-bottomed pot with olive oil, heat over medium heat.
• Saute onion with bay leaf, oregano, basil, salt, black pepper and crushed chili peppers for about 5-7 minutes or until the onions are transparent.
• Add in fresh garlic; cook stirring for 2 minutes.
• Add the tomato paste;mix and stir for about 2 minutes or until well combined with the onion mixture.
• Add in the wine; stir well to combine.
• Add the 2 cans crushed tomatoes (can use 3 cans if you are freezing some sauce) and the drained diced tomatoes, stir and bring to a light boil; boil for 5-8 minutes then reduce heat to low.
• Add in uncooked meatballs to the sauce (if you are adding the meatballs uncooked do not stir for 30 minutes or you may run the risk of them falling apart in the simmering sauce).
• Simmer uncovered on low heat for about 3-5 hours (the longer you simmer uncovered the thicker and richer your sauce will be so don't be afraid to simmer even 6 hours!) adding more salt if desired.
• Skim off any fat that might gather on top of sauce.
• Allow to cool to room temperature then refrigerate (with the meatballs in the sauce) a minimum of 1 day or up to 4 days before using.
• Use as much as desired then freeze the rest for another meal, just reheat the sauce on top of the stove or heat in microwave (this will freeze well for up to 6 months).
• Note: if desired, you can bake the meatballs in the oven before adding to the sauce.

KITTENCAL'S ITALIAN MELT-IN-YOUR-MOUTH MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl.
• Shape into small meatballs (at this point you can place on a jelly-roll/baking sheet and freeze to use later, or cover with plastic wrap refrigerate up to 24 hours before using).
• Drop the meatballs into simmering pasta sauce, do not stir for at least 20 minutes or you will risk breaking the meatballs.
• Continue cooking in the simmering sauce for another 20 minutes (depending on how fast your sauce is simmering 40 minutes total should fully cook the meatballs).
• After the 40 minutes cooking time continue cooking your sauce with the meatballs in for as long as desired.
• **note** you may also bake the meatballs at 350 degrees F for 25 minutes or until cooked through.

KITTENCAL'S SCALLOPED POTATO AND GROUND BEEF CASSEROLE

Steps:

• In a skillet cook the ground beef with onion, bell pepper and chili flakes (if using) until no longer pink; drain fat over a colander.
• Return to pan and add in garlic, season salt and black pepper; cook stirring with a wooden spoon until the meat is lightly browned (I usually add in about 1-2 tablespoons bacon fat that I keep frozen in my freezer to the meat while browning for added flavor and it also helps to brown the meat) set aside.
• For the sauce; in a medium bowl mix together the undiluted soup with onion, milk, sour cream, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, seasoned salt and black pepper to taste; mix well to combine.
• In a greased 13 x 9-inch baking dish or a large oval casserole dish, alternately layer the sliced potatoes on bottom of the baking dish, then soup mixture (I like to sprinkle grated cheddar cheese on top of the soup mixture) then the ground beef mixture on top.
• Since this is a large casserole I strongly suggest to place the baking dish on a jelly-roll sheet in case of any spills.
• Bake covered with foil for about 1 hour at 350 degrees F.
• Uncover and continue baking for another 20-30 minutes or until the potatoes are tender (baking time will vary depending on the thickness of your sliced potatoes).
• Remove from oven then sprinkle with grated cheddar cheese; return to oven for 4-5 minutes or until the cheese has melted.