Why You’ll Love This Recipe!

Comfort Food. Spaghetti is one of my favorite childhood food memories.  It was one of my mom’s go to meals when we were growing up.  Today’s recipe is a fun twist on my favorite homemade Spaghetti and Meat Sauce.  Instead of the usual ground beef, I spice it up with some ground Italian sausage. It is then layered with cheese and baked.

Easy and Delicious. Baked spaghetti casserole is easy, delicious and fun to eat. The process is simple and can easily be done ahead of time and refrigerated to make dinner time easier.  It is layered with spaghetti noodles, cheese and meat sauce.  This recipe uses small curd cottage cheese which gives it extra protein, but I promise you will never know there is cottage cheese in this dish!

Ingredients Needed

• Spaghetti Noodles
• Italian Sausage or use Ground Hamburger
• Onion, yellow or white
• Marinara Sauce, you can use a jar of sauce or your favorite homemade recipe
• Eggs
• Butter, salted
• Cottage Cheese, small curd. You can also use ricotta cheese if you prefer.
• Mozzarella Cheese, grated
• Parmesan Cheese, grated
• Italian Blend Cheese, grated
• Sugar
• Salt
• Seasoning such as dried basil, dried oregano, dried parsley or use an Italian Seasoning blend.

How to make Baked Spaghetti

• Boil water and cook spaghetti until al dente stage in a large pot. Drain pasta. Follow package directions.
• Cook sausage and onion in a large skillet until meat is browned and onion is soft.

• Stir in spaghetti sauce, seasoned salt, sugar, basil, oregano and parsley into meat mixture. Simmer mixture to allow it to thicken up.

• Mix eggs, Parmesan cheese and melted butter in a bowl. Pour over cooked spaghetti and toss to combine.

• Combine Mozzarella Cheese and Italian Blend Cheese.

• Place half of noodles in bottom of lightly greased 9 x 13 inch baking dish.

• Top with half of the meat mixture.
• Add half of the cottage cheese and half of the shredded cheese mixture.

• Repeat, layers of spaghetti, sauce, cottage cheese and finish with the remaining cheese.

• Cover with foil and bake for 350 degrees F for 35 minutes.
• Remove aluminum foil and continue to bake until cheese is melted and golden brown. About 20 minutes.
• Garnish with fresh parsley or fresh basil.

Check out more of my favorite recipes:

• Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

• Chicken Spaghetti with Red Sauce
• Lemon Pancakes
• Brown Butter Pasta
• Italian Sausage Soup

Be sure and follow me over on You Tube for weekly cooking demos.

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Baked Spaghetti Recipe

Change up your typical spaghetti dinner with this easy and delicious baked spaghetti.

Course Main Dish

Cuisine Italian

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time 55 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 17 minutes minutes

Servings 8 people

Calories 702kcal

Author Leigh Anne Wilkes

Equipment

• Baking Dish (9×13)
• Frying Pan
• Measuring Cups

Ingredients

• 1 lb. spaghetti noodles
• 1 lb. mild Italian sausage
• 1 cup onion chopped
• 1 jar 32 oz. of your favorite meatless spaghetti sauce or homemade version
• 1/2 tsp seasoned salt
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese grated
• 2 eggs
• 4 Tbsp. butter melted
• 1 cup small curd cottage cheese
• 2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
• 2 cups Italian blend cheese I used Monterey Jack and Colby, shredded
• 1 tsp basil
• 1/2 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp parsley

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Grease a 9 x 13 pan
• Cook spaghetti in boiling water until al dente.
• In a large pan cook sausage and onion until meat is browned and onion is soft. Drain
• Stir in spaghetti sauce, salt and sugar if you'd like sauce a bit sweeter like I do.. If using a store bought sauce I like to add some extra spice – add in basil, oregano and parsley.
• Mix together eggs, Parmesan cheese and butter in a bowl.
• Mix in spaghetti noodles and stir to coat.
• Place half of noodles in bottom of baking dish
• Top with cottage cheese and half of the other two cheeses.
• Top that with half of meat sauce.
• Repeat layers by adding remaining noodles on top, remaining sauce and then cottage cheese and remaining cheese.
• Cover with foil and bake for 35 minutes.
• Remove foil and continue to bake until cheese is melted and golden brown. About 20 minutes

Notes

1. If making ahead, cover the baked spaghetti with tin foil and store in the fridge until ready to bake.
2. If using a jarred sauce, add in the sugar and extra spices. If making a homemade sauce, you can add those additions into your sauce.

Nutrition

Calories: 702kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 41g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Cholesterol: 135mg | Sodium: 1024mg | Potassium: 363mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 516IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 303mg | Iron: 2mg

Continue reading Baked Spaghetti. This post is from Your Homebased Mom. If you are not reading it from our feed, it has been STOLEN. Please contact Leigh Anne Wilkes to let us know. Enjoy the posts.

Why You’ll Love this Recipe!

Today’s recipe is always a family favorite.  And not just my family!  I have taken this dish to lots of family’s when someone was sick or had a new baby and it is always a big hit.  After they enjoy their dinner, they always request the recipe.  It is also a delicious dish to make for company.

You will love how easy it is to make this delicious baked ziti.  Double the recipe and share with a neighbor.  They will love it too.

I like to add spinach and pesto. The pesto gives it a wonderful flavor and the spinach balances out the meal nicely.

Ingredients Needed

• Italian Sausage. I use a mild Italian sausage but you could also use hot. You could also use ground beef or ground turkey if you prefer.

• Onion. Yellow or white onion.
• Garlic
• Tomatoes. I use petite diced canned tomatoes.
• Pesto
• Ziti Noodles. Or whatever type of pasta you like. I like to use a tubular shaped pasta so the sauce has something to hold onto. Rigatoni or penne are my favorites.
• Baby Spinach
• Mozzarella Cheese
• Parmesan Cheese

How to Make Baked Ziti

• Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Drain.
• Cook sausage, onion and garlic in a pan over medium high-heat in a large skillet until sausage is cooked through.
• Add tomatoes with juices,

• Simmer until sauce thickens slightly, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes.
• Add pesto and season sauce with salt and pepper.

• Bring mixture back to a simmer.
• Pour cooked pasta, spinach, mozzarella and Parmesan cheese in large bowl.

• Stir in warm hot tomato mixture.
• Place in a lightly greased 9 x 13 inch casserole dish. I use olive oil spray.
• Sprinkle remaining Parmesan cheese over top of the ziti.

• Bake at 375 degrees F until sauce bubbles and cheeses melt, about 30 minutes.

Check out more of my favorite pasta dishes:

• Sausage and Tomato Pasta
• Chicken Sausage Pasta
• Italian Sausage Soup
• Italian Sausage and Potato Soup
• Pesto Chicken Pasta

Be sure and follow me over on You Tube for weekly cooking demos.

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Baked Ziti Recipe

This easy Baked Ziti recipe brings this classic family favorite to the next level. It combines noodles, meat sauce and cheese in the ultimate comfort food.

Course Main Dish, Pasta Main Dish

Cuisine Italian

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

0 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour

Servings 8 servings

Calories 501kcal

Author Leigh Anne Wilkes

Equipment

• Baking Dish (9×13)
• Measuring Cups
• Measuring Spoons

Ingredients

• 1 pound sweet or hot Italian sausages
• 1/2 cup chopped onion white or yellow
• 3 large garlic cloves chopped
• 1 28 ounce canned diced tomatoes
• 1/4 cup pesto
• 10 ounces ziti or penne pasta about 3 cups, freshly cooked
• 4 cups baby spinach leaves
• 6 ounces mozzarella cheese grated or cubed
• 1 cup Parmesan cheese grated

Instructions

• Boil pasta in a large pot of salted water until al dente (still a bit firm). Drain
• Cook sausage, onion and garlic in a frying pan until is cooked through
• Add in tomatoes with juices
• Simmer until sauce thickens slightly, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes
• Add pesto. Season with salt and pepper if needed
• Season sauce with salt and pepper
• Preheat oven to 375° F.
• Lightly oil 13 x 9-inch glass baking dish.
• Combine pasta, spinach, mozzarella and 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese in large bowl.
• Stir in warm hot tomato mixture.
• Place in prepared baking dish
• Sprinkle remaining 2/3 cup Parmesan cheese over
• Bake until sauce bubbles and cheeses melt, about 30 minutes

Notes

• The sauce can be made the day before to speed up the process on a busy night.
• Cook your pasta al dente, so it is still a bit firm. It will continue to cook as the ziti bakes. It can also be cooked ahead of time and kept in the fridge until ready to use.
• This is a great recipe to double and freeze for later or share with a neighbor.

Nutrition

Calories: 501kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 71mg | Sodium: 836mg | Potassium: 550mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1935IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 327mg | Iron: 2.8mg

Continue reading Baked Ziti. This post is from Your Homebased Mom. If you are not reading it from our feed, it has been STOLEN. Please contact Leigh Anne Wilkes to let us know. Enjoy the posts.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Comfort Food. I have to admit that when my children were growing up the only macaroni and cheese they ever ate came out of the blue box.  But since discovering this homemade version, this is the only kind of mac and cheese we’ll have at our house!

Dressed Up Version. This is definitely not your average mac and cheese. To dress it up, I added some panko breadcrumbs on top to give it a little crunch, four flavorful cheeses and a sprinkling of green onions to give it some color and even more flavor.

Ingredients Needed

• Small Elbow Macaroni, you can also use cavatappi, elbow, and rotini because they hold cheese sauce well.
• Cheese, I used Monterey Jack Cheese , Gruyère Cheese, Parmesan Cheese, and Sharp White Cheddar Cheese but feel free to use your own favorite combination.
• Whole Milk, you could also use half and half or whipping cream to make it even creamier.
• Panko Bread Crumbs
• All Purpose Flour
• Butter, salted
• Seasoning, I like to use Oregano and Red Pepper Flakes but you could also use Cayenne Pepper for a little kick.
• Green Onions, this adds some nice color and a little flavor.
• Salt

How to Make Homemade Mac and Cheese

• Prepare shallow 2 qt. baking dish with cooking spray.
• Boil a large pot of water and cook elbow macaroni until al dente.
• Drain pasta, reserving the pasta water.
• Melt 4 Tbsp butter in a large pan over medium heat. Add in flour and whisk to combine and cook until it turns light brown, making a roux.

• Pour in milk, whisking as you pour. Stir until smooth.

• Add in seasoning and cook until sauce thickens.

• Stir in cheeses, one at a time. Wait until each cheese is melted before adding next.
• Add in pasta and stir to coat with cheese sauce. Use pasta water to thin sauce if needed.

• Place mixture into greased dish.
• Melt butter and add the breadcrumbs, Parmesan and a pinch of salt. Stir to combine

• Sprinkle over top of pasta.
• Bake at 400 degrees F until browned and bubbly, about 15-20 minutes.

• Garnish with sliced green onions.

Check out more of my favorite comfort food recipes:

• Crock Pot Mac and Cheese
• Small Batch Mac and Cheese
• Rice Cooker Mac & Cheese
• Olive Cheese Bread
• Turkey Soup

• Shepherds Pie
• Chicken and Dumplings
• Lasagna Casserole

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Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

Baked Mac and Cheese is comfort food at it's finest. The combination of three different cheeses gives it lots of flavor and creaminess.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

0 minutes minutes

Total Time 50 minutes minutes

Servings 6 servings

Calories 564kcal

Author Leigh Anne Wilkes

Equipment

• Baking Dish (8×8)
• Measuring Cups
• Measuring Spoons

Ingredients

• 6 Tbsp butter divided
• 2 cups small macaroni dry
• 1/4 cup all purpose flour
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1/4 tsp oregano
• pinch red pepper flakes
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese grated
• 1 cup gruyere cheese grated
• 1 cup sharp white cheddar cheese grated
• 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 2 Tbsp Parmesan Cheese grated
• green onions chopped for garnish

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Spray a shallow 2 qt. baking dish with cooking spray.
• Boil a large pot of water and cook pasta until al dente.
• Drain, reserving the pasta water for later.
• Melt 4 Tbsp butter in a large pan over medium heat. Add in flour and whisk to combine and cook until it turns light brown.
• Add in milk, whisking as you pour. Stir until smooth.
• Add in seasoning and cook until sauce thickens.
• Add in cheeses, one at a time and stir until each cheese is melted before adding next cheese.
• Add in pasta. Use remaining pasta water to thin sauce if it has thickened too much.
• Place mixture into greased dish.
• Melt remaining 2 Tbsp butter and add the breadcrumbs, Parmesan and a pinch of salt. Stir to combine
• Sprinkle over top of pasta and bake until browned and bubbly. About 15-20 minutes.
• Garnish with sliced green onions.

Notes

• Cheese. I used one of my favorite cheese combo in this recipe but you could also use Pepper Jack Cheese, Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Mozzarella Cheese or Colby Jack. Come up with your own favorite combo of cheeses.
• Shred your own cheese. I recommend NOT using pre shredded cheese. Pre-shredded cheese may have an anti-caking agent on it that will prevent it from melting smoothly. You also get a better flavor from freshly grated cheese.
• Breadcrumbs. Don’t skip this part, it adds a nice texture contrast to the creaminess of the mac and cheese.
• Dress it Up. To make it even better, add in some crispy, cooked bacon!

Nutrition

Calories: 564kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 21g | Cholesterol: 101mg | Sodium: 880mg | Potassium: 247mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1043IU | Calcium: 629mg | Iron: 1mg

Continue reading Baked Mac and Cheese. This post is from Your Homebased Mom. If you are not reading it from our feed, it has been STOLEN. Please contact Leigh Anne Wilkes to let us know. Enjoy the posts.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Family Favorite: This dish has been a family favorite at our house for years and was one of the very first recipes I ever shared here on the blog. I first had a similar dish at a high end restaurant and went home and made my own version, it quickly became one of our go to weeknight meals. In fact, we usually have to count out the ravioli and divide them evenly so that no one gets more than their share! 

Amazing Flavor: I like to call brown butter liquid gold!!  Brown butter is what happens when you cook butter long enough so that the butter solids get all toasty and the flavor is delicious. There is a fine line between brown butter and burnt butter, so make sure to check out my   brown butter tutorial.

Ingredients Needed

• Ravioli – See Tips below for type of ravioli
• Fresh Sage Leaves
• Balsamic Vinegar
• Butter, salted, If using unsalted butter be sure and salt to taste.
• Parmesan Cheese. I use freshly grated for the best flavor.
• Salt and Pepper

How to Make Brown Butter Ravioli

• Boil large pot of water over medium-high heat and add the ravioli. 
• Cook according to package directions.
• Drain and set aside.
• Melt butter into large skillet and brown. As soon as it begins to get a little golden brown, toss in the ravioli and sage into the brown butter sauce.
• Cook until ravioli is lightly browned on both sides and sage is crispy.

• Dish ravioli onto a plate drizzle with balsamic vinegar and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.  Add a bit of black pepper if desired.

Check out more delicious recipes:

• Maple Glazed Instant Pot Pork Roast
• Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Brown Butter Frosting
• Black Bean Chili
• Brown Sugar Cake

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Brown Butter Ravioli

This Brown Butter Ravioli is the perfect 20 minute weeknight meal.  Whether you serve it as your main dish or as a side dish, this is a good choice any night of the week.  The flavor factor is off the charts with brown butter, crispy sage, balsamic vinegar and a topping of freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Course Main Dish, Pasta Main Dish

Cuisine American

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 4 servings

Calories 119kcal

Author Leigh Anne Wilkes

Equipment

• Frying Pan
• Measuring Cups
• Measuring Spoons

Ingredients

• 1 12 oz. ravioli fresh or frozen
• 3 Tbsp. butter cut into small pieces
• fresh sage
• 2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
• 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil for ravioli.
• Salt water and drop ravioli in water.
• Cook for 5 minutes or until ravioli expand, float to top of water and are al dente. Follow directions on package.
• Melt butter into large frying pan and brown. As soon as it begins to get a little golden brown, add in the ravioli and sage
• Cook until lightly browned on both sides.
• Place on plate and drizzle with balsamic vinegar and sprinkle with cheese.
• Salt and pepper to taste.

Notes

1. Be sure to turn or flip the ravioli with a spatula. Do not stir it as that will break it down.
2. For a little crunch and extra flavor, add in some toasted walnuts or hazelnuts.
3. This brown butter ravioli would also be delicious with some lemon juice squeezed over the top and garnished with some lemon zest.
4. When serving as a main dish, I use a meat filled ravioli such as chicken and when serving as a side dish, I use cheese ravioli, butternut squash or pumpkin ravioli. You can find the ravioli in the refrigerated section of the grocery store.

Nutrition

Calories: 119kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 216mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 342IU | Calcium: 101mg | Iron: 1mg

Continue reading Brown Butter Ravioli. This post is from Your Homebased Mom. If you are not reading it from our feed, it has been STOLEN. Please contact Leigh Anne Wilkes to let us know. Enjoy the posts.

• Add a little sugar, red pepper flakes, dried oregano and  fresh basil along with a small can of tomato sauce to thicken it up a bit.
• Let sauce simmer in a frying pan for about 20 minutes
• In another pan, add a little olive oil and cook chicken. 
• Add the cooked chicken to the sauce and serve it over pasta. 
• Finish it off with a sprinkle of fresh Parmesan and some more fresh basil on top.

Check out more of my favorite pasta dishes:

• Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
• Baked Spaghetti
• Lemon Chicken Pasta
• Chicken Tomato Pasta
• Garlic Chicken Pasta with Roasted Tomatoes

Be sure and follow me over on You Tube for weekly cooking demos.

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Chicken Spaghetti Recipe

Chicken Spaghetti with Red Sauce is the perfect go to dinner idea when you have no idea what's for dinner!  

Course Main Dish

Cuisine Italian

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 6 people

Calories 152kcal

Author Leigh Anne Wilkes

Ingredients

• 2 skinless boneless chicken breasts bite size pieces
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 3 cloves garlic chopped
• 1 28 oz. diced tomatoes
• 1 8 oz. tomato sauce
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• 2 tsp sugar
• 1/2 cups chopped fresh basil reserve some to sprinkle on top
• parmesan cheese grated for varnish

Marinade for Chicken:

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1/2 tsp garlic salt

Instructions

Marinade for Chicken:

• Mix together marinade ingredients and add cut up chicken
• Marinade for 30-60 minutes and then cook chicken in a frying pan until meat is cooked through

Tomato Sauce

• Saute onions and garlic in olive oil.
• Add in tomatoes, tomato sauce, oregano, sugar, red pepper flakes and fresh chopped basil. Simmer for 20 minutes
• While simmering cook marinaded chicken in a frying pan until cooked through
• Add chicken into sauce and serve over pasta
• Garnish with freshly chopped basil and freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Video

Notes

• Make sure you use a big enough pot. The pasta can expand up to three times in normal size.
• Use enough water to completely cover pasta and allow an inch or two on top.
• Add a little salt to your water to make it boil faster.
• Add the pasta after the water has come to a boil.
• Cook pasta until al dente. You want there to still be some resistance to the pasta when you bite into it. The pasta will continue to cook after you remove it from the water so don’t over cook the pasta. You don’t want your pasta mushy or gummy.
• Drain the pasta when it has reached the desired softness. Do not rinse your pasta with cold water. The starch that is on the noodles gives it flavor and helps the sauce to stick to it.

Nutrition

Calories: 152kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 242mg | Potassium: 171mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 142IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg

Continue reading Chicken Spaghetti with Red Sauce. This post is from Your Homebased Mom. If you are not reading it from our feed, it has been STOLEN. Please contact Leigh Anne Wilkes to let us know. Enjoy the posts.