Cook's Choice Casserole
- 8 oz bite-sized pasta (macaroni, rigatoni, or ziti, or spaghetti broken in half)
- ½ Tbsp unsalted butter OR vegetable oil
- ½ Tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp seasoning of your choice (For example, Mrs Dash Original Blend or Mrs Dash Garlic Herb)
- (optional) 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1½ cups chopped fresh or frozen vegetables (for example: onions, celery, mushrooms, broccoli, spinach, and/or squash)
- 1-1/2 cup cooked meat (chicken, turkey, or beef), cubed or shredded OR additional chopped vegetables if you are making an all-veggie casserole
- For a cream sauce, use ⅓ cup cream of xxx soup mix and 1- ¼ cup chicken or vegetable broth
- Or, use 1-1/2 cup basic tomato sauce. (see recipe under sauces)
- Or, use 1-1/2 cup Alfredo sauce (see recipe under sauces)
- (optional) ¼ cup crunchy topping (For example: breadcrumbs, panko, or toasted almonds)
- (optional) ⅛ to ¼ cup shredded cheese, if desired (cheddar, parmesan, Romano, or Parmesan)
- Cook pasta according to package directions (omit the salt) for al-dente, but stop cooking a minute early.
- Heat a large skillet or pan to medium high. Then add the butter and oil. When the butter has melted, add chopped vegetables. Sauté 6-10 minutes, until vegetables are almost at desired doneness.
- Lightly spray a casserole dish with oil. Mix vegetables, meat, sauce, and pasta. Then put entire mixture in a casserole dish.
- If desired, you can cover casserole with foil and either refrigerate it up to 24 hours before baking or freeze it for 2-3 weeks.
- If casserole is frozen, thaw it in the refrigerator for 24 hours before baking.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Sprinkle the casserole with (optional) crunchy topping and (optional) cheese just before baking. Bake uncovered 30-40 minutes until heated through and the top begins to brown. (If casserole was refrigerated prior to baking, bake it 40-45 minutes. If casserole was frozen, defrost it in the refrigerator for 24 hours and then bake it 40-45 minutes.)
Recipe by The Low Sodium Spot at https://waltonspot.com/lowsodium/recipes/vegetable-recipes/cook-choice-casserole/
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