Lady brought this famous “8-Layer Casserole” to a party. This dish stole the show!
Embark on a gastronomic journey with the Eight-Layer Casserole, a savory delight that tantalizes the taste buds. This comprehensive article guides you through the process, offering insights and tips to make your cooking experience seamless and enjoyable.
Ingredients:
| INGREDIENTS | QUANTITY |
|---|---|
| Ground beef | 1 pound |
| Medium onion, chopped | 1 |
| 2 cloves garlic, minced | 2 cloves |
| Tomato sauce | 15 ounces |
| Diced tomatoes, undrained | 14.5 ounces |
| Tomato paste | 6 ounces |
| Water | 1 cup |
| Dried basil | 1 tablespoon |
| Salt | 1 teaspoon |
| Ground black pepper | 1/2 teaspoon |
| Rotini pasta, uncooked | 3 cups |
| Cottage cheese | 1 cup |
| Egg, lightly beaten | 1 |
| Shredded mozzarella cheese | 4 cups |
| Frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well-drained | 10 ounces |
| Bacon, cooked and crumbled | 8 slices |
| Grated Parmesan cheese | 1/2 cup |
Instructions:
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Prepare Meat Sauce: In a large skillet, brown the ground beef with chopped onion and minced garlic. Drain excess grease.
- Create Tomato Mixture: Stir in tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, water, dried basil, salt, and pepper. Simmer the mixture for about 10 minutes.
- Cook Pasta: While the meat sauce simmers, cook the rotini pasta al dente according to the package directions.
- Prepare Cheese Mixture: In a small bowl, mix together cottage cheese and beaten egg.
- Layer in Baking Dish: In a greased 9×13 inch baking dish, layer half of the cooked rotini, followed by half of the cottage cheese mixture, half of the meat sauce, and 2 cups of mozzarella cheese.
- Repeat Layers: Repeat the layers and top with the well-drained spinach.
- Finish with Toppings: Sprinkle crumbled bacon on top and add a generous layer of Parmesan cheese.
- Bake: Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and starting to brown.
- Serve: Let it stand for 10 minutes before serving. Your Eight-Layer Casserole is now ready to be enjoyed!
Follow these simple steps, and you’ll have a delicious casserole to share with friends and family. Enjoy!
