Layered Meat And Cottage Cheese Macaroni Casserole

Total Time: 25 hrs 40 mins Preparation Time: 25 hrs Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 1/2 lb ground beef
• 1/2 lb lamb sausage (or use 1 pound ground beef)
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1 -2 tablespoon fresh minced garlic (or to taste)
• 2 -3 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional or to taste)
• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 (14 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 -2 teaspoon salt
• black pepper (to taste)
• 3 cups uncooked macaroni noodles
• 3 cups creamy cottage cheese
• 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 4 cups grated mozzarella cheese, divided (or use as much as desired, or use cheddar cheese)
• 1/2 cup dry breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons melted butter

Recipe

• 1 grease a 13 x 9-inch baking dish.
• 2 for the sauce; cook the ground beef or sausage meat with onion and garlic, chili powder, basil, oregano and cayenne; cook until browned; drain fat.
• 3 add in tomato paste and stir over medium-low heat for 2 minutes.
• 4 add in crushed tomatoes, bring to simmer and cook uncovered over medium-low heat stirring occasionally for 1-1/2 to 2 hours (the longer this sauce cooks the thicker and richer it will be, if you find that the sauce is too thick add in some water and continue cooking).
• 5 season with salt and pepper; set aside.
• 6 meanwhile cook the macaroni pasta until just al dente (do not overcook the pasta) drain then place into a bowl.
• 7 add in 3 cups cottage cheese, 1 cup grated mozzeralla cheese, 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; mix to combine with a wooden spoon.
• 8 spread about 1-1/2 cups cup meat sauce into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
• 9 top meat sauce (just dollup the meat sauce then spread with a spoon, you do not have to cover completely with the meat sauce) then with 1/3 of the cottage cheese/macaroni mixture, then sprinkle about 1 cup shredded mozzeralla or cheddar cheese.
• 10 repeat the layers 2 more times (make certain to save some meat sauce for the top of the casserole).
• 11 top with remaining meat sauce.
• 12 in a small bowl combine the topping ingredients together until blended, then sprinkle over the top of the casserole.
• 13 at this point you can cover the casserole and refrigerate until ready to bake.
• 14 bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
• 15 let stand for 15 minutes before serving.
• 16 delicious!