Easy Pasta Casserole Recipes

Pasta is Italian and noodles are German, AND Southern Germany loves its noodles.

This is a great fun casserole to make for company. Make it ahead and then just pop it in the oven to bake.

I enjoy making this using either whole wheat or multigrain spaghetti - not only delicious, but healthy as well!

German Noodle Nests

Ingredients:

Instructions:

Cook spaghetti according to package instructions, till "al dente".
Drain spaghetti, rinse with cold water. Return to pot and mix in 3 tbsp. olive oil.
Quarter mushrooms. In frying pan, put remaining olive oil. Heat. Add mushrooms, stirring until browned. Add sausage,
Using a garlic press (or chopping finely), add garlic to mushrooms. Continue to brown for a few minutes. Remove from heat.
Add green onions and season with salt and pepper.
Preheat oven to 400° F.
Put 1/3 of pasta sauce in bottom of casserole dish.
Form 6 "noodle nests" (see hints below) and place in casserole.
Distribute the mushroom mixture in the center of the nests.
Pour the rest of the pasta sauce around the nests.
Sprinkle cubed mozzarella over top.
Bake, uncovered, until bubbly - about 25 - 30 minutes.
Serves 4 - 5

Hints:

To form nests, put about 1/6 of spaghetti on a saucer and form into nest, with a depression in center. Slide into casserole dish.
Repeat with remaining spaghetti.