Baked Spaghetti

By CandyH

Ingredients

• Kosher salt
• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef chuck
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 large onion, diced (about 2 cups)
• 1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and diced (about 1 cup)
• 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• One 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
• One 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 8 ounces thin spaghetti
• 8 ounces sharp Cheddar, grated (about 2 cups)
• 1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, finely chopped

Details

Adapted from foodnetwork.com

Preparation

Step 1

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

Heat a second large pot over medium-high heat. Add the beef, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and cook, stirring to break the meat up, until browned, about 4 minutes. Add the onions, bell peppers, garlic and a generous pinch of salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in the crushed and diced tomatoes, sugar and oregano and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti for 2 minutes less than the time indicated in the package directions. Strain well. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Cover the bottom of a 13-by-9-by-2-inch pan with a third of the sauce. Add half the pasta and a third of the Cheddar; repeat the layers and add the last of the sauce; reserve the last of the Cheddar.

Bake for 30 minutes. Top with the remaining Cheddar and continue baking until it melts and the sauce bubbles, about 5 more minutes. Let cool in the dish for at least 10 minutes. Garnish with the parsley before cutting into squares.