Baked spaghetti
- 6 slices bacon
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 1 cup chopped bell pepper
- 3 14.5-ounce cans diced tomatoes with liquid
- 1 2.25-ounce can sliced ripe black olives, drained
- 1–2 tablespoons dried oregano, according to taste
- 1 pound ground beef, browned and drained
- 12 ounces thin spaghetti, cooked and drained
- 2 cups grated Cheddar cheese (5 ounces)
- 1 10-ounce can cream of mushroom soup
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions:
This dish meets all the requirements for the perfect potluck take-along. It’s a crowd pleaser, it’s big enough to feed a crowd—and it’s easy to transport.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9 × 13 × 2-inch baking dish.
- In a large skillet, cook the bacon until slightly crisp, then cut it into smaller pieces. Remove the bacon and sauté the garlic, onion, and bell pepper in the bacon drippings until tender. Add the tomatoes, olives, oregano, bacon, and the cooked beef. Simmer this mixture, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Place half of the spaghetti in the prepared pan. Top the spaghetti with half of the vegetable-beef mixture. Sprinkle this layer with 1 cup of Cheddar cheese. Repeat the layers. Mix the canned soup and water until smooth, and pour over the casserole. Sprinkle the top with Parmesan cheese. Bake, uncovered, for 30 to 35 minutes, or until heated through.