What kind of recipe makes your all-star list? If you are like me, it must be easy, made from ingredients you are likely to have in your pantry and something most people (including kids and picky eaters) will like. Bonus points for something that can be made ahead of time and doesn’t require much last minute preparation.
Scooter’s Spaghetti fulfills all these requirements. But who is Scooter you ask? She is one of my favorite people from way back who is an awesome cook and gave me this recipe. Her name matches her personality perfectly—she’s great fun.
While I’m pontificating, I might as well give you my take on sharing recipes. Some people are reluctant. I used to be. But I have found sharing a recipe ensures a memory of you every time the recipient makes it. Hopefully, you’ve written the measurements down correctly so the memory will be good.
Case in point, I recently ran into somebody I had not seen in 30 years. She was completely forgotten to me. But she remembered a recipe I had given her. Said she still makes it. When she told me what it was I couldn’t place it. Guess it was a fleeting experiment for me.
Note to Scooter: “I think of you every time I make this, which is really often since we all love it so much.” My hips are not quite as grateful.
| Scooter’s Spaghetti |
|
- 8 ounces uncooked spaghetti
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 large can spaghetti sauce (26.5 ounces)
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/2 cup chopped green peppers (I usually omit or substitute red peppers)
- 1/3 cup chopped onions
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 2 tablespoons milk
- Fresh grated Parmesan cheese
- French Fried Onions (small can)
- Cook spaghetti according to directions on the package. Cook to al dente, drain and set aside.
- Brown ground beef. Drain excess grease. Add spaghetti sauce to skillet and heat.
- Combine onions, peppers and butter in small glass bowl. Cover and microwave 4 minutes on HIGH until soft.
- Add cream cheese and milk to vegetables and stir well. (If cream cheese is not soft, nuke it for 20-30 seconds to make it easy to spread.)
- Using a 10 x 6 dish, assemble in the following order:
- Thin layer of spaghetti sauce on the bottom of the casserole dish.
- Spaghetti
- Cream cheese/vegetable mixture
- Spaghetti sauce
- Parmesan Cheese (amount subject to your own taste)
- French Fried Onions (added during last 5 minutes of cooking)
- Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Top with French Fried onion and continue baking 5 more minutes. (This is the secret ingredient–don’t let them burn.)
Make this ahead of time and refrigerate or freeze without the French Fried onions. Don’t forget to add them 5 minutes before casserole is finished cooking.
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Hi Joan,
It’s definitely my favorite spaghetti. Hope you like it. pr
What brand of spaghetti sauce do you use?
I just started a new blog about recipes and this was my first one!
Michele recently posted..Strawberry, Balsamic and Goat Cheese Muffins
Paula, I saw your comment about recipe sharing and had to share this… I have a spiral bound “recipe book” that a friend bought for me in the dollar rack at Michaels a few years ago. She’s an excellent cook and I was a beginner, so she wrote a few of her recipes in it. I now, 5 years later, have 20 recipes in my cookbook, and ALL are from friends and family. They have names like “Teri’s Chicken and Noodles”, “Grandma Rose’s Snack crackers” and “Auntie Sue’s Dirt Cake”. I am eternally grateful to these gracious ladies who have shared their secrets and their love of cooking with me. It’s a treasure that I will add to forever and plan on passing on to my daughter…who at 2 1/2 loves to cook!
Hi Barbara,
Auntie Sue’s Dirt Cake sounds interesting. Assuming it’s chocolate something??
What a blessing to have a daughter who already loves to cook! I just found out my daughter-in-law is pregnant last night and I’m praying for a girl since I only had sons. Either way, I can’t wait to cook with them. pr
Dirt cake is a combination of crushed Oreos layered with a cream cheese/vanilla pudding/confectioners sugar/whipped topping mix. Unbelievably delicious and with a calorie count to match! I usually make it for large gatherings as it makes a ton. : ) One of my favorite pictures of my daughter is of her with my best friend who is one of my incredible cook friends. They are rolling out pie dough together, my daughter is using a plastic play dough roller…adorable! Enjoy cooking with your little ones, it just makes it that much better.
I made this for my husband and son. We all loved it! I rarely find a recipe that everyone likes well enough to say “Keep this one” and both made a point of telling me to fix this often. I used a little extra green bell pepper and a bit extra onion. Everything else was by the recipe and it was really good as well as easy ro prepare. It will be a staple for potlucks and to give to new moms, friends that have just had surgury and especially for our family meals! Thanks for sharing!
I froze this. Do I need to thaw it b4 I cook it?
I LOVE this recipe! My husband told me to make sure I had it in a safe place. He raved about it. My kids enjoyed it too. I did change a couple things. I omitted the onion and peppers and used Philadelphia Pesto Cooking Creme instead of the regular cream cheese and milk. It was delicious!!
Pesto Cooking Creme? That’s a new twist I haven’t heard of and I can’t wait to try it. Glad it was a hit. pr
May I use your picture on Pinterest?
Thank you!
Made this tonight, left off the french fried onions, and topped it with pepperoni’s the family loved it.!!! Thanks for the recipe.
Thanks,
michele
Forgot to mention I left out the vegtables(didn’t have on hand) and mixed cream cheese with sauce, tasted great.
Thanks ,
Michele
This was great! Had to make it in 11.5 x 8 pan, no way all that is supposed to fit into a 10 x 6 pan.
PS- added mushrooms and they went nicely with the recipe!
Just wanted to let you know I made Scooter’s Spaghetti for the Crazy Cooking Challenge, it was fantastic! So glad I found this recipe for the challenge!
http://chocolatechocolatemorechocolate.blogspot.com/2012/03/spaghetti-challenge-scooters-spaghetti.html
Joan Hayes@chocolate and more recently posted..Spaghetti Challenge-Scooter’s Spaghetti
I’ve whipped this one up after stumbling across the recipe on pinterest. It’s in the fridge ready to go for tomorrow nights dinner, although couldn’t find the crunchy fried onions here in western Australia.
I love spaghetti, this recipe sounds great! and easy! =)
Im a new email subscriber!
Melissa B recently posted..The Cozy Mystery List Blog
Welcome Melissa! I think you will enjoy the spaghetti. pr
Hi Katherine,
Sorry you don’t have the onion rings. That’s the best part. But I bet you will enjoy it anyway. pr
We LOVE this recipe! I am actually planning to make this tonight to freeze for later. Do you suggest baking then freezing, or just mixing it all together, freezing and baking just prior to serving? I’m new to this whole “freezer cooking” thing!
I found this recipe on Pinterest and I have to say………..YUM! YUM! YUM! I rarely make spaghetti becuase my husband really doenst care for it, but he just absolutely loves this recipes. And the best thing about it is that it tastes better the next day. And I NEVER eat leftover spaghetti! Have passed this recipe on to other family and friends; just couldn’t keep it to myself! Thanks for sharing! Totally a KEEPER!
Sorry I forgot to rate this! lol
Amy, we fight over the leftovers of this stuff! I agree that it is even better the next day.
How many do you think this serves? We often cook for a large crowd from church so we have to make extra of everything!
Jessica, this serves about 8-9 people. We fight over leftovers so I always make lots. Pr
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