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High Protein Spaghetti Casserole Recipe

High Protein Spaghetti Casserole Recipe
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★★★★★

4.9 from 29 reviews

This High Protein Spaghetti Casserole is a delicious and hearty meal combining lean ground beef, tomato-rich sauce, and a creamy blend of cheeses layered with al dente spaghetti noodles. Perfect for a nutritious family dinner, this casserole is baked to golden perfection and garnished with fresh basil for a fresh touch.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta

  • 12 oz spaghetti noodles (dry)
  • 1 tbsp olive oil

Meat & Sauce

  • 1 lb lean ground beef
  • 2 15 oz cans tomato sauce
  • 1 15 oz can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
  • 1 tbsp dried basil
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper

Cheeses

  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese (shredded, low fat, divided)
  • 1 cup cream cheese (low fat, softened)
  • 1 cup cottage cheese (low-fat)

Garnish

  • Fresh basil (chopped)

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly spray a 13″ x 9″ casserole dish with oil and set aside.
  2. Cook Spaghetti: Boil the spaghetti noodles according to the package instructions until al dente. Once cooked, drain well and transfer to a large mixing bowl.
  3. Cook Ground Beef: While the spaghetti cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the lean ground beef, breaking it apart with a spatula, and cook until browned, about 5-7 minutes.
  4. Prepare Sauce Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, cornstarch, Italian seasoning, dried basil, garlic powder, onion powder, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to incorporate.
  5. Simmer Sauce with Beef: Pour the prepared sauce into the skillet with the browned beef, mix thoroughly, reduce heat, and simmer gently for 15-20 minutes. Stir occasionally to let excess water evaporate without burning the sauce.
  6. Combine Beef and Spaghetti: Add about 2 cups of the beef and sauce mixture to the bowl with spaghetti. Toss until the noodles are evenly coated with the sauce.
  7. Mix Cheeses: In a small bowl, combine 1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese with the softened cream cheese and low-fat cottage cheese. Mix until smooth and evenly blended.
  8. Assemble Casserole – Layer 1: Spread half of the remaining beef and sauce mixture (approximately 1.5 to 2 cups) evenly on the bottom of the prepared casserole dish.
  9. Layer 2: Spread half of the spaghetti mixture over the beef layer.
  10. Layer Cheese Mixture: Evenly spread the cheese mixture over the spaghetti layer.
  11. Layer 3: Add the remaining spaghetti mixture on top of the cheese layer, then cover with the remaining beef mixture.
  12. Top with Cheese: Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese evenly on top of the casserole.
  13. Bake Covered: Cover the casserole dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.
  14. Uncover and Finish Baking: Remove the foil and bake uncovered for an additional 5 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown and bubbling.
  15. Garnish and Serve: Garnish the hot casserole with freshly chopped basil and serve immediately.

Notes

  • Use lean ground beef to reduce fat content and keep the dish healthier.
  • You can substitute spaghetti with whole wheat noodles for added fiber.
  • For a milder flavor, reduce garlic powder and onion powder.
  • Make sure to simmer the sauce low and slow to allow flavors to develop and avoid a watery casserole.
  • The casserole can be assembled a day ahead and refrigerated, just increase baking time slightly when cooking from cold.
  • Fresh basil as garnish adds a bright, fresh contrast to the rich casserole.

Nutrition

Keywords: high protein casserole, spaghetti casserole, healthy spaghetti bake, cheesy spaghetti casserole, ground beef casserole, easy family dinner, low fat casserole

Find it online: https://cheflenacooks.com/high-protein-spaghetti-casserole-recipe-2/