Kittencal's Spaghetti Pie

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Preparation Time: 35 mins Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 8 ounces uncooked thin spaghetti
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper (or to taste)
• salt (optional or to taste)
• 2 cups cream-style cottage cheese
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
• 1/2 lb ground beef (or use bulk italian sausage meat or half each)
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional or adjust to suit heat level)
• 1 -2 tablespoon fresh minced garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 (14 ounce) can tomato sauce (another 1/2 cup sauce won't hurt)
• 1 (10 ounce) can sliced mushrooms, drained
• 1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt (or to taste) or 1/2 teaspoon white salt (or to taste)

Recipe

• 1 grease a round 2-quart casserole dish or an 11 x 7-inch baking dish.
• 2 for the sauce; in a skillet or saucepan brown the ground beef with onion and red chili flakes until no longer pink.
• 3 drain fat then add in garlic, oregano and basil; cook for 2 minutes.
• 4 add in tomato sauce, mushrooms and 1/2 teaspoon salt, bring to a boil over medium heat stirring.
• 5 reduce heat to low and simmer for 30-40 minutes stirring occasionally, season with more salt to taste if desired.
• 6 meanwhile cook the spaghetti in boiling water until almost tender (undercook the spaghetti as it will soften up even more when baked in the oven) drain in a colander then rinse under cold water, drain well again then place into a large bowl.
• 7 add in melted butter, garlic powder, eggs, 1/2 cup parmesan cheese and black pepper; using clean hands toss/mix until well combined (use hands for mixing spaghetti this will not work with a spoon) season with salt to taste if desired.
• 8 to assemble; spread the spaghetti mixture evenly into bottom of the pie plate, pressing down with hands to flatten.
• 9 in a bowl mix 2 cups cottage cheese with 1/4 cup parmesan and 1 cup mozzarella cheese cheese then spread over the spaghetti.
• 10 dollop the tomato sauce mixture over the cottage cheese then spread out with a spoon.
• 11 top with 1 cup or more of mozzarella cheese.
• 12 cover with foil and bake at 350°f for 30 minutes.
• 13 uncover and continue to bake 10-15 minutes more or until hot and bubbly.