Baked Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

It turns out, Steven goes insane for baked pasta. HOW DID I NOT KNOW THIS?  He was like a kid hopped up on candy and icecream. He couldn't wait to cut into it, had two giant helpings, then brought it to work every day for lunch.  I mean, I thought it was pretty good too (although I prefer regular old stovetop spaghetti, myself), but Steven gobbled this stuff up!

Baked Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

Adapted from Shutterbean

Serves 6

• 1 pound spaghetti
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1/2 medium onion, chopped
• pinch red pepper flakes
• 24 ounce jar marinara sauce
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• parsley, for garnish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Spray 9 by 13 casserole pan with cookie spray and set aside.

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Add onion and garlic and cook until fragrant. Add ground turkey to the skillet and breaking it up while it cooks.  Once meat is cooked, add red pepper flakes and marinara sauce.  Simmer and occasionally stir the meat sauce for another 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, boil spaghetti according to package directions in a large pot.  Drain and turn to pot. Stir the meat sauce into the pasta.

Transfer half the spaghetti into the baking dish, sprinkle with half of the cheese.  Add the rest of the spaghetti and top with the rest of the cheese.  Bake for 20 minutes.  Turn the oven to broil and cook pasta for another 3 minutes until the cheese starts to crisp. 

Top with chopped parsley and serve.