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This is a recipe I love to make to either share with family and friends or freeze for ourselves. The reason its called Friendship Casserole is because it makes two 9 x13 pans full. One for yourself and one to share. I love to make to bring to friends that have just had a baby. Or to my neighbors for the holidays. All they have to worry with is popping it in the oven to warm. But sometimes I do keep both for us and put one in the freezer for a quick meal. The taste is a mixture between cheesy lasagna and saucy spaghetti. Which in other words means it tastes awesome.
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Start off by browning the hamburger meat over medium high heat, add in a little salt and pepper
Then salt a large pot of water and bring to a boil, I usually add about a tablespoon of salt to this much water, and bring to a boil
While the meat is browning go ahead and grate the mozzarella cheese
and add the chopped garlic to the browning meat
Once the meat is completely browned, add the spaghetti sauce
then add the onion powder (don’t have onion powder? just use half an onion instead)
and simmer for about 20 minutes
Once the water is boiling add the noodles and cook for about 7-8 minutes or until al dente
When the noodles are cooked, drain them and add back to pot with butter and Parmesan cheese, stir until butter is melted and cheese combined
In 2 9×13 greased pans, add half of the meat sauce to the bottom of each
Then all of the noodles
Then the rest of the meat sauce and topped with cheese.
Cover with foil and bake at 350 for 45 minutes.
Let one cool if you are sending to a friend and/or if you are freezing double wrap with foil with baking instructions: Thaw completely then bake for 30 minutes at 350, until heated through.
Enjoy the saucy cheesy goodness!
Friendship Casserole
2 lbs ground beef
1 (48 oz) jar spaghetti sauce
3-4 garlic cloves, minced, or 1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 (16 oz) pkg medium egg noodles
1/2 cup margarine or butter
3/4 tsp onion powder or 1/2 onion
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
12 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
Preheat oven to 350º
Brown meat, drain fat. Add onions and garlic and spaghetti sauce; simmer 20 minutes.
Cook noodles as directed (al dente); drain and toss with butter and Parmesan cheese.
Spray two 9×13 pans with non-stick spray. In both pans layer half the sauce, all the noodles, rest of sauce; top with mozzarella cheese.
Cover with foil; bake 45 minutes. Serves 16.
Note: Since this recipe makes enough for two casseroles, plan one for your family and one for a friend. Think of someone who might need a reminder that they have friends who care about them – a new mom in your neighborhood, a family who’s moving, someone with an illness. OR, keep one for yourself and freeze one for another day. Wrap well with plastic wrap and then aluminum foil. Note the name of the recipe, the date and cooking instructions on the foil. Thaw completely before baking – make sure to remove the plastic wrap!