I love this recipe because it's tasty like lasagne, but somehow seems like less work to me. I hate all that layering and playing with the lasagne noodles, so I like that all that is required for this recipe is to just mix everything together in a pot and dump it in the casserole dish. The spagetti noodles seem to absorb the sauce while it cooks and become very flavourful. Perfect winter comfort food, just what is needed at the end of a dreary January.

1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, pressed
1 small green pepper, diced
1 large can tomato sauce
1 tsp chili flakes
1 tsp basil
1 cup chopped olives
1 375g package whole wheat (or plain) spaghetti
1 cup chopped fresh spinach
1 cup cottage cheese
1/2 cup grated mozerella
1/4 grated parmesean
Boil noodles according to package directions in a large pot.
To prepare tomato sauce (you may substitute your favorite tomato sauce recipe here):
Cook onion, chili flakes and garlic in a small amount of oil in a sauce pan. Add green pepper. Stir in tomato sauce, olives and basil. Let simmer on low for 10 minutes.
When noodles are done, drain and put back in the large pot. Pour tomato sauce over noodles and mix together. Add spinach and cottage cheese and stir until mixed in. Pour the whole mixture into a large casserole dish. Top with the mozerella and parmesean. Cook in a 350 degree oven for 20-25 minutes, or until cheese in melted and brown. Let stand for 5-10 minutes and serve.
Oh, yes.
1/29/2006 @ 1:44 pm
That looks yummy, gonna have to give that one a try.
1/29/2006 @ 2:41 pm
Thanks for the recipe — it does look delish and easier than lasagna. Definitely trying this out.
1/29/2006 @ 3:33 pm
OOOOh! I’m hungry!
1/29/2006 @ 4:47 pm
yum. i saw it, i made it. good-o!
1/30/2006 @ 8:00 am
oh great! this is just my type of dish!! thanks for sharing!
1/30/2006 @ 11:26 am
Thanks for the recipe! I too hate all of that layering! How nice to have the same yumminess without all of the work. So simple but who’d of thunk?! YUM!
1/30/2006 @ 8:57 pm
I HATE the layering too… the noodles ALWAYS break. This looks perfect. Just perfect. I know what is for dinner at least once this week now. Thanks!
1/30/2006 @ 9:15 pm
i am so hungry right now and that looks good.
1/31/2006 @ 1:59 am
Even better, you can just throw sauce and lots of extra water in a baking dish with noodles and cheese and meat or fake meat and bake it for like 1.5 hours and voila! A dish even I can’t ruin! Okay, I tend to ruin stuff when it takes too long to make–I get grouchy–so I don’t ruin this because it’s too fast.
1/31/2006 @ 3:04 pm
ooh looks like i have a new favorite dinner!

thanks!
1/31/2006 @ 5:18 pm
Just made this for dinner – delicious!!!
Thanks for posting the recipe.
2/1/2006 @ 10:15 pm
Mmm! I saw this on here the other day, and I made it and it was delicious! I used red peppers though, because I like them better, and I highly recommend it
2/2/2006 @ 10:33 am
Oh my gosh, thank you for posting this. I am obsessed with finding the perfect baked spaghetti recipe. I actually like it when it comes out of the pan all stuck together in a cube (you have to add egg for that). I love ricotta so much, I’ll probably substitute that for the cottage cheese, but maybe I’ll try it both ways. The spinach sounds good. Yay.
2/4/2006 @ 12:57 am
Thanks for sharing the recipe…….tempting.
2/4/2006 @ 1:35 am
Wow, I’m glad so many people tried this recipe and liked it! Also, I’m so glad there are so many other people who are as lazy as me that they can’t be bothered with lasagne noodles like me!
2/4/2006 @ 5:50 pm
Hi Laurel
Carol from UBC Career Services. I tried this on the weekend. yummm.. My “I won’t eat vegetables” toddler didn’t even notice the green peppers. Amazing!
2/7/2006 @ 2:06 pm
Great! I was looking for a Baked Spaghetti recipe like this one! Thanks….
Someone mentioned lasagna noodle breking….I don’t boil mine when layering. All the juices from sauce help it so it turns out wonderful.
11/12/2006 @ 7:57 am
I just made this dish to take to my daughters, it is absolutely delicious and easy to make. I couldn’t find chili flakes so used chili powder. It is great.
7/28/2010 @ 7:34 pm
Does anyone know if you can freeze this dish before baking it? Urgent.
7/28/2010 @ 8:36 pm
My three boys love it. With one vegetarian, it’s great to have a dish that all of them will eat. It sure beats fixing a meat version and a vegetarian version. This dish plus a loaf of toasted french bread and dinner is done. With the spinach mixed in, they get a dose of vegetables without even realizing it. Thanks!!!!
10/3/2010 @ 7:59 pm