Fanny's Italian Casserole
Serves: 4
Shirley Senger
1 January 1970
Based on User reviews:
50
Spice
51
Sweetness
51
Sourness
38
mins
Prep time (avg)
4.4
Difficulty
Ingredients:
450 g
Ground Beef1 tbsp
Dried Basil1 large
Bay Leaf1 tsp
Oregano (dried)1 tsp
Celery Salt450 g
Elbow Macaroni (package)1 cup
Water2.25 cups
Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese (divided)Directions:
1
Place the hamburger into a large saucepan over medium heat, and cook and stir the meat until no longer pink, breaking the meat up into crumbles as it cooks, about 10 minutes
2
Stir in the onion and continue to cook and stir until the onion is translucent, about 5 more minutes
3
Drain grease from the pan, and stir in the 2 jars of sauce, basil, bay leaf, oregano, and celery salt
4
Reduce heat, and simmer the sauce for 1 hour
5
Remove from heat
6
About 15 minutes before the sauce is finished simmering, fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat
7
Once the water is boiling, stir in the macaroni, and return to a boil
8
Cook the pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta has cooked through, but is still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes
9
Drain well in a colander set in the sink
10
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C)
11
Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray
12
Whisk together the mushroom soup and water in a bowl until smooth
13
Layer 1/3 of the meat sauce into the bottom of the prepared baking dish, and spread half of the cooked macaroni over the sauce
14
Spoon half the soup mixture over the macaroni, and spread 1 cup of shredded Cheddar cheese
15
Repeat the layers with 1/3 of the remaining sauce, the remaining pasta, the remaining soup mix, and 1 more cup of Cheddar cheese
16
Spread the last third of the meat sauce over the casserole, and sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup of Cheddar cheese
17
Spray a piece of aluminum foil with cooking spray, and cover the dish with the foil
18
Bake the casserole in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, then remove the foil and bake until the cheese topping is browned and the casserole is bubbling, about 15 more minutes