"making momma proud" meatball casserole

Name: "Making Momma Proud" Meatball Casserole
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 55 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 11/2 pound(s) meatballs browned or frozen purchased meatballs; 12 ounce(s) penne pasta, cooked; 2 cup(s) ricotta cheese; 11/2 cup(s) sour cream; 2 cup(s) baby spinach; 2 cup(s) fresh sliced mushrooms; 1 can(s) sliced tomatoes, canned italian style with juice; 1 cup(s) parmigiano-reggiano, grated; 16 ounce(s) grated mozzarella cheese; 2 large eggs; - salt and pepper to taste; 1 tablespoon(s) olive oil, extra virgin; 1 teaspoon(s) italian seasoning; 1 tablespoon(s) chopped fresh basil; 8 ounce(s) softened cream cheese; 5 cup(s) pasta sauce

(1 RATING)

74 Pinches 1 Photo

Lori Harbin-Combs

Roseburg, OR

Updated on Feb 13, 2014

My Momma loved to cook but rarely had all of the ingredients she needed as we were dirt poor out in the woods of east Texas. She would have been proud of my original recipe.

Rate

prep time 45 Min

cook time 55 Min

method Bake

yield 6 to 8

Ingredients

11/2 pounds meatballs browned or frozen purchased meatballs
12 ounces penne pasta, cooked
2 cups ricotta cheese
11/2 cups sour cream
2 cups baby spinach
2 cups fresh sliced mushrooms
1 can sliced tomatoes, canned italian style with juice
1 cup parmigiano-reggiano, grated
16 ounces grated mozzarella cheese
2 large eggs
- salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon olive oil, extra virgin
1 teaspoon italian seasoning
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
8 ounces softened cream cheese
5 cups pasta sauce

How To Make "making momma proud" meatball casserole

Step 1

Make meatballs with half very lean ground beef and half Italian sausage. I also use home made sour dough bread crumbs and season well with Italian seasoning, lots of garlic and parmesan cheese.

Step 2

Cook pasta and drain well.
Step 3

Cook mushrooms and spinach in evoo and sprinkled with Italian seasoning.
Step 4

Mix the sour cream, ricotta, eggs, cream cheese, 1/2 c. grated mozzarella, 1/4 c. parmesan, the spinach and mushroom mixture with evoo and pasta. Season with course ground black pepper and salt to taste.
Step 5

Start with 1 cup. pasta sauce in bottom of large deep pan. Top with all the meat balls. Add a layer of parmesan cheese and the drained Italian tomatoes. Next all of the pasta mixture with the chopped basil over the pasta mixture. End with all the pasta sauce, remaining parmesan cheese and lastly the remaining mozzarella cheese.
Step 6

Bake in 350 degree oven for 55 min. or till hot and bubbly.
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