Paula Deen's Baked Spaghetti

mailbelle's Note:

From a Paula Deen calendar. Fodor's Travel Guide called this "The Best Baked Spaghetti in the South."

• Total Time: 2 hrs
• Prep Time: 1 hrs
• Cook Time: 1 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 8

• 1 ½ lbs ground chuck
• 1 green bell pepper , diced
• 1 onion , diced
• 2 garlic cloves , minced
• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
• ½ cup water
• ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1 ½ teaspoons italian seasoning
• 1 ½ teaspoons house seasoning (see recipe below)
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• 1 ½ teaspoons sugar
• 2 small bay leaves
• 8 ounces angel hair pasta
• 8 ounces grated cheddar cheese
• 8 ounces grated mozzarella cheese

House Seasoning (combine all ingredients and keep in a shaker)

• 1 cup salt
• ¼ cup ground black pepper
• ¼ cup garlic powder

Directions:

1. In a large saucepan, cook ground chuck, bell pepper, onion, and garlic over medium heat, stirring until meat crumbles and is browned and vegetables are tender. Drain well.
2. In a Dutch oven, combine drained meat mixture, crushed tomatoes and next 9 ingredients (through bay leaves). Bring mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally; reduce heat, and simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove and discard bay leaves.
3. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain well and set aside.
4. Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly grease a 13x9x2-inch baking dish.
5. Spoon one third of the sauce mixture over the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Top with half of the pasta, then one third of the cheese. Repeat layers, ending with sauce and reserving remaining one third of the cheese.
6. Bake uncovered, 45 minutes. Top with remaining cheese, and bake 10 to 15 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Remove from oven, and let rest 10 minutes before cutting into squares to serve.

Reviews

[mizjmassie]

I have been using this recipe for years and it is absolutely delicious to me. I don't have to change a thing or tweak in any way.

[Southernhopsing]

Good and easy. I doubled the recipe and froze one. I actually used 2 28 oz cans crushed tomatoes, 1 28 oz can diced tomatoes, 2 6 oz cans tomato paste, 1 28 oz can water. I also used mozz and parm cheeses. Very tasty. Paula's a great cook.