Weeknight Meal Plan: Pasta Bake

This is a quick and easy meal plan, requiring ingredients that are pretty much on hand, and fast enough to find and checkout in the express lane.

Ingredients

1 lb cooked and drained spaghetti, rotini, or macaroni noodles

1 16-24 oz can or jar tomato sauce of choice

1/2 lb of ready to use pepperoni, cut into strips

3/4 cup ricotta cheese (optional)
1/4-1/2 cup parmessan cheese

2-3 balls (8-10 oz) of mozzarella cheese, cut into thin circles

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°
2. Cook pasta according to box directions, drain.
3. Pour 1/4 cup sauce on bottom of a 2 quart or 13x9 baking dish.
4. Cut mozzarella and pepperoni in thin slices.
5. Mix pasta, remaining sauce, pepperoni, ricotta, and parmessan together in a bowl, until well mixed.
6. Pour into baking dish, and place slices of mozzarella on top.
7. Bake for 25 minutes, then turn oven to broil, and cook another 5-8 minutes (until browned a bit).

Serve with garlic toast (French bread with butter and garlic rubbed on or garlic salt, browned under broiler), and some fresh simple salt and pepper green beans.

The whole family will love this, and it is simple as can be!