Cheesy Layered Ground Beef And Pasta Casserole

Total Time: 55 mins Preparation Time: 25 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 2 1/2 lbs ground beef
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 -2 jalapeno pepper (optional)
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh garlic (or to taste)
• fresh sliced mushrooms, any amount (or use canned, drained)
• 1 cup grated parmesan cheese, divided (or to taste)
• 3 (8 ounce) cans tomato sauce
• salt and pepper
• 2 cups grated mozzarella cheese (or to taste)
• 4 cups medium noodles (use any kind of pasta you desire, 4 cups measured after cooking)
• 1 cup cottage cheese or 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 2 cups grated mozzarella cheese (optional or to taste) or 2 cups cheddar cheese (optional or to taste)

Recipe

• 1 set oven to 350 degrees.
• 2 grease a large lasagna dish.
• 3 cook the pasta until only firm-tender; drain (it does not have to measure exactly 4 cups cooked, careful not to overcook the pasta as it will cook more in the oven) drain and transfer to a bowl, toss with a couple tablespoons oil to prevent sticking; set aside.
• 4 in a skillet, cook ground beef, onion, jalapenos (if using) mushrooms and minced garlic until meat is brown and cooked stir in 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, tomato sauce salt and pepper, stir until heated through (you can the sauce for up to 45 minutes on low heat).
• 5 spread 1/2 meat sauce on bottom of pan.
• 6 spread 1/2 noodles on top of sauce.
• 7 top noodles with 1 cup mozza cheese.
• 8 mix 1 cup cottage cheese with 1/2 cup sour cream and 1/2 cup parmesan cheese.
• 9 spread over mozzeralla cheese.
• 10 top with remaining tomato sauce, noodles,and remaining mozza cheese.
• 11 sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup parmesan cheese.
• 12 bake, covered for 20 mins, uncover casserole (at this point you can sprinkle with grated mozzeralla or cheddar cheese if desired).
• 13 return to oven to bake for another 10-15 mins, or until bubbly.