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Thursday, January 6, 2011

Budget Friendly Pasta Bake

I could probably eat pasta everyday, but I don't. I could also probably eat chocolate everyday.

Which I almost do.

What could you eat everyday and not get sick of?

Of course everything I would list is not healthy, so I'm not even going to mention them. Except for pasta.

This dish came together quickly the other night, even after getting home late with a hungry husband and little man waiting in the wings. Lets just say they approved.

I call this dish budget friendly, well, because it is. The most expensive item was the ground beef and that can even be omitted if you like, but of course the husband doesn't really like any meal without "meat", so I threw it in.

And this makes a TON. I filled two casserole dishes full and froze one to eat next week. Do you see my new Rachael Ray casserole dishes? I totally recommend them!



Budget Friendly Pasta Bake
1 lb. pasta
1 lb. ground beef or turkey, cooked and drained
1 can diced tomatoes
1 small jar spaghetti sauce (about 2 cups)
1 1/2 c. mushrooms
1/2 c. Parmesan cheese
1 T. oregano
mozzarella cheese
salt/pepper to taste

In salted boiling water, cook pasta until al dente. Meanwhile in skillet cook ground beef until done and drain. Drain pasta and add all other ingredients into pasta pot. Stir to combine. Add a little of the pasta water if too thick.

Divide into two casserole dishes, top with mozzarella cheese. Bake at 400 degrees, just until cheese is melted and bubbly.

And serve, of course, with the Italian vegetable side dish of choice.

Garlic Bread.

Would you like to comment?

  1. Things I could eat every.single.day:

    - Pasta
    - Foccacia bread with balsamic vinegar and olive oil
    - Cheese
    - Soup

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  2. I could eat CHEESE everyday! Yummy yummy! :) I love how much this makes - freezing later is great for lazy people like me.

    And I love your Rachael Ray dishes! I see them on her show and they look so convenient and cute.

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  3. That is really budget friendly,and your dishes are reall ynice!! Unfortunately, most of the things I could eat every day are also not good for me. So I'll go with bread and potatoes!! Especially together, like when you sop up the last of the beef stew with a slice of bread and get little bits of potato on it.

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  4. Looks awesome! I could eat pasta every day without getting tired of it. It's so delicious and yummy :)

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  5. Looks so good Ally, I will have to make this sometime soon!

    Pizza is something I could eat everyday!

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  6. My husband would agree. If I made pasta every night, I would get no complaints! I love pasta bakes.

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  7. I love a meal like this, makes my lunches at work easy

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  8. Looks amazing! Baked pasta is always a hit at our house! And, I love those pans!!

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  9. Looks amazing! Baked pasta is always a hit at our house! And, I love those pans!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. That is really budget friendly,and your dishes are reall ynice!! Unfortunately, most of the things I could eat every day are also not good for me. So I'll go with bread and potatoes!! Especially together, like when you sop up the last of the beef stew with a slice of bread and get little bits of potato on it.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Things I could eat every.single.day:

    - Pasta
    - Foccacia bread with balsamic vinegar and olive oil
    - Cheese
    - Soup

    ReplyDelete