School Cafeteria Spaghetti

There were only two things that created a buzz around school when I was growing up: upcoming teacher workdays and spaghetti day in the cafeteria. School spaghetti was one of my favorite dishes then, and it still is now! Try this simple, yet more grownup, version.

• Preparation Time: 10 mins
• Cooking Time: 35 mins
• Total Time: 45 mins
• Calories: 759 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 ½ pounds ground beef
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 (26 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
• ½ green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 (16 ounce) package spaghetti
• cooking spray
• 1 envelope dry Italian salad dressing mix (such as Good Seasons®)
• 4 cups grated sharp Cheddar cheese

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray.

Step 2

Heat oil in a wide pan over medium-high heat. Saute onion and bell pepper in the hot oil until soft, 5 to 7 minutes.

Step 3

Mix Italian dressing mix into ground beef and add to the hot pan; saute until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain. Add spaghetti sauce and simmer over medium heat for 15 minutes.

Step 4

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 12 minutes. Drain and add beef mixture; mix well. Transfer to the prepared casserole dish and top with Cheddar cheese.

Step 5

Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is browned, about 10 minutes.