Description
Mexican-inspired Eight-Layer Casserole delivers a hearty symphony of flavors from ground beef, beans, tortillas, and melted cheese. Layers of comfort create a delicious dinner that brings family and friends together around one satisfying dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Protein:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef
- 8 slices bacon, cooked until crisp and crumbled
- 1 large egg, beaten
Pasta and Cheese:
- 3 cups (270 grams) uncooked rotini pasta
- 4 cups (452 grams) shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup (50 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
Vegetables and Seasonings:
- 10 ounces (283 grams) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 15 ounces (425 grams) tomato sauce
- 14.5 ounces (411 grams) diced tomatoes with juice
- 6 ounces (170 grams) tomato paste
- 1 cup (237 milliliters) water
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare a 9×13-inch baking dish with a light coating of cooking spray.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, brown ground beef with finely chopped onions and minced garlic, carefully draining any accumulated fat afterward.
- Incorporate tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, water, dried basil, salt, and black pepper into the meat mixture, allowing it to simmer for 10 minutes to develop rich flavors.
- Cook of rotini pasta in salted boiling water until perfectly al dente, then drain thoroughly and set aside.
- Whisk together cottage cheese and a beaten egg in a separate bowl until well combined and smooth.
- Create the first layer in the baking dish by spreading half of the cooked pasta across the bottom, followed by an even layer of the cottage cheese mixture.
- Add half of the seasoned meat sauce over the cottage cheese, then sprinkle a generous layer of shredded mozzarella cheese on top.
- Repeat the layering process with the remaining pasta, cottage cheese mixture, meat sauce, and mozzarella cheese.
- Distribute fresh spinach leaves evenly across the top layer, then garnish with crumbled bacon pieces and grated Parmesan cheese.
- Cover the casserole tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes in the preheated oven.
- Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 15 minutes until the top turns golden brown and slightly crispy.
- Allow the casserole to rest for 10 minutes before serving, which helps the layers set and intensifies the overall flavor profile.
Notes
- Layering technique transforms ordinary ingredients into a mouthwatering masterpiece with strategic placement of each component.
- Prepping ingredients ahead saves precious time during busy weeknight cooking adventures.
- Draining excess fat ensures a lighter, healthier dish without compromising rich, robust flavors.
- Mixing cottage cheese with egg creates a creamy binding layer that adds luxurious texture throughout the casserole.
- Letting the dish rest after baking allows flavors to meld together, creating a more harmonious and delicious final result.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking, Boiling, Sautéing, Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 392 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg