Cheesy Baked Spaghetti

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I would be willing to bet that 90% of you have a pack of leftover spaghetti sauce in the freezer.  In preparation for a trip recently, I needed a dinner option that was going to be super easy that I did not need to run out to the store for.  To complicate matters, my kids are NOT fans of leftovers, so I try to be creative in my use of leftover ingredients.  This easy cheesy baked spaghetti turned out to be a big hit at our house!

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Ingredients:  

• Leftover spaghetti meat sauce
• I had about 3 cups
• Pasta of your choice
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano reggiano
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 - 1/2 tsp tsp black pepper
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• a ball of fresh mozzarella cheese
• Italian seasoning

Step-by-Step:

Pull out a pack of spaghetti meat sauce to thaw.  If you need to use a jarred sauce, just crumble and brown some ground beef (or Italian sausage, or ground turkey) with some added seasonings just as if you are making spaghetti. 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Get your pasta boiled according to package directions. Drain, rinse in cool water, and set aside.  Make as much as you think your family will eat, just as you normally do.

 

While the pasta is boiling, mix together the eggs, Parmesan, basil, salt, garlic powder, black pepper, and half of the shredded mozzarella.  

 

Mix the egg and cheese mixture into the drained spaghetti.  

Mix in the meat sauce and the other half of the shredded mozzarella.  You can leave it on top or mix it in if you would prefer.

Top with slices of fresh mozzarella and several grinds of Italian seasoning on top.

Cover with aluminum foil, in a tented fashion (not touching the toppings). 

Bake at 350 degrees F for about 40 minutes tented with the aluminum foil, then uncover and continue to bake another 15 minutes or so until the cheese is all melted on the top.   

Enjoy!

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Written Method:

Pull out a pack of spaghetti meat sauce to thaw.  If you need to use a jarred sauce, just crumble and brown some ground beef (or Italian sausage, or ground turkey) with some added seasonings just as if you are making spaghetti. 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Get your pasta boiled according to package directions. Drain, rinse in cool water, and set aside.

While the pasta is boiling, mix together the eggs, Parmesan, basil, salt, garlic powder, black pepper, and half of the shredded mozzarella.  Mix the egg and cheese mixture into the drained spaghetti.  Mix in the meat sauce and the other half of the shredded mozzarella.  You can leave it on top or mix it in if you would prefer.  Top with slices of fresh mozzarella and several grinds of Italian seasoning on top.

Cover with aluminum foil, in a tented fashion (not touching the toppings).  Bake at 350 degrees F for about 40 minutes tented with the aluminum foil, then uncover and continue to bake another 15 minutes or so until the cheese is all melted on the top.