BAKED SPAGHETTI WITH LEFTOVERS RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375ºF.
• Cut the squash in half lengthwise; remove and discard seeds. Place squash on a baking sheet cut side down. Bake until tender, about 1 hour.
• Separate the strands of squash with a fork and place in a medium bowl; discard shells. Squeeze out any excess liquid from the squash if watery.
• Maintain the oven temperature.
• Heat butter and oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and cook about 2 minutes.
• Stir in flour. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring continually 3 - 4 minutes.
• Add milk and chicken broth and continue whisking, raising heat to medium-high until it comes to a boil and becomes smooth and thick, about 2 minutes stirring; season with salt and pepper.
• Once it becomes thick, remove from heat, add cheddar cheese and mix well until cheese is melted.
• Adjust salt and pepper to taste, add cooked spaghetti squash and baby spinach, pour into a baking dish and sprinkle parmesan cheese on top.
• Bake until bubbly and golden 25 to 30 minutes.

Steps:

• Grease a baking dish and heat the oven. Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat to 350°F. Coat a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil.
• Cook the pasta. Add the spaghetti and 1 teaspoon of the salt. Cook according to package directions until the spaghetti is al dente, 8 to 10 minutes. Meanwhile, make the sauce.
• Brown the beef and make the sauce. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add the beef and use a stiff spatula to break it up into large pieces. Season with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and let the meat brown undisturbed 4 to 5 minutes. Break the meat up into smaller pieces with the spatula and continue to cook until the beef is mostly browned with no pink showing, 2 to 3 minutes more. Remove from the heat and stir in the marinara.
• Drain the pasta and cool slightly. When the pasta is ready, drain but do not rinse. Let cool for 5 minutes, just long enough to prevent the eggs from scrambling.
• Make the ricotta layer. While the pasta is cooling, stir the ricotta, Italian seasoning, and garlic together in a small bowl.
• Whisk together the egg and Parmesan cheese. Place the eggs and Parmesan cheese in a large bowl and whisk to combine. Add the drained and cooled spaghetti and toss to coat.
• Layer the spaghetti, ricotta mixture, meat sauce, and mozzarella. Place 1/2 of the pasta mixture in the baking dish in an even layer. Dollop with 1/2 of the ricotta mixture, then spread with a spatula. Spoon 1/2 of the meat sauce over the ricotta, then sprinkle with 1/2 of the cheese. Repeat the layers with the remaining ingredients.
• Bake covered 30 minutes, then 10 to 15 minutes uncovered. Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and cook until the edges are bubbling and the cheese is melted and browned in spots, 10 to 15 minutes more. Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired. Let cool 5 minutes before cutting and serving.