Southern Filled Comfort Casserole

Total Time: 45 mins
Preparation Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6


• 10 ounces macaroni (elbow, bow ties or spirals)


• 1 lb ham, cubed (smoked works well, too)


• 1 spanish onion, med-large, chopped


• 3 garlic cloves, minced


• 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can italian stewed tomatoes


• 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can crushed tomatoes


• 1 (10 3/4 ounce) can condensed golden mushroom soup


• 3 cups grated cheddar cheese


• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt


• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper


• 4 -6 dashes tabasco sauce (optional)

Recipe

• 1 cook pasta "al dente" as per directions, making sure not to overcook. drain and set aside.


• 2 preheat oven to 400 degrees.


• 3 spray oil a saute skillet over medium heat, and add chopped onion, cooking until transparent (about 10 minutes). halfway through, add minced garlic and mix well.


• 4 (if you're using ground meat, brown at this time and drain excess grease).


• 5 in large bowl combine italian tomatoes, breaking up tomato pieces into small bite sizes.


• 6 add crushed tomatoes, can of soup, salt, pepper and 1 cup grated cheese, mixing well (add optional tabasco sauce). add cooked onion and cubed ham (or other meat) and mix.


• 7 fold in pasta until well coated and then transfer into an oil sprayed 12x9 casserole dish, spreading evenly.


• 8 sprinkle with remaining cheese.


• 9 bake for 25-30 minutes until lightly golden brown on top and bubbly on the sides.


• 10 set aside for 5 minutes to set.