I can still remember the first time that my Mom made this recipe. She modified a basic casserole that someone had given to her and added the oregano and some old cheddar. Over the years, I have made a few changes. I use whatever vegetables I have on hand and like to add cheese to middle of the casserole as well.
It is a lovely recipe for a Friday evening. You can make it the night before; take it out of the fridge and pop it in the oven. Serve it with some nice crispy bread and a green salad. I like to serve it with my Greek Salad, since the oregano in both complement each other.
Macaroni Vegetable Casserole
A delicious combination of cheese, vegetables and pasta.
Ingredients
- 500 g lean ground beef
- 1 onion - chopped
- 2 cloves garlic - minced
- 1 sweet pepper, chopped - green, yellow, or red
- 3/4 cup celery - chopped
- 2 zucchini - diced
- 1 cup sliced cremini mushrooms
- 2 1/2 cup uncooked pasta - we prefer Scoobi Doo noodles
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 tsp black pepper - freshly ground
- 1 tsp oregano - dried
- 14 oz canned diced tomatoes
- 1 1/2 cup grated old cheddar
- 1 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Optional
- 1 tbsp fresh basil leaves - chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F (175C)
- Boil the pasta in a large pot of salted water until cooked (follow the instructions on the package if timing is uncertain). Drain and rinse with cold water.
- Chop the onion, garlic, celery, zucchini, pepper, and mushrooms. I always add the onion, garlic, and peppers, but you can experiment with the other vegetables according to your tastes.
- Heat a large frying pan or skillet on the stove and add the butter and olive oil. Once the butter has melted, add the onion and garlic and continue to cook until the onion is translucent and soft.
- Add the ground beef to the mixture and, using a spatula, break of the meat and stir the mixture until the meat has been browned. Add the oregano, pepper, and salt, and mix thoroughly. Then, add the other fresh vegetables and cook for 5 minutes.
- Carefully stir in the tomatoes and cooked pasta to the mixture. You may need to add a quarter cup of water if the mixture seems dry.
- Grease one large (or two medium) casseroles, and fill it halfway with the mixture from the frying pan. Sprinkle about a half cup of the cheese (divide if using two casseroles). Put the remaining mixture on top of the cheese, and top with the remaining cheese.
- Bake in the oven for 30 minutes (covered) and then for another 10 minutes uncovered until bubbly.
- Serve with a bit of fresh basil sprinkled on top, with a loaf of crusty bread and a nice salad.
Frozen Casserole
- If you have made two casseroles, then you can freeze one. Defrost it before cooking. If it has been in the fridge or is still a little cold, extend the cooking time until the mixture is bubbly.