Baked Spaghetti

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces spaghetti
• 1 pound ground beef or ground turkey
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can (14 ounces) diced tomatoes
• 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
• 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
2. Cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
3. In a large skillet, cook the ground beef or ground turkey over medium heat until browned. Add the chopped onion, green bell pepper, and minced garlic. Sauté until the vegetables become soft and the onions are translucent.
4. Add the diced tomatoes (with their juice), tomato sauce, tomato paste, dried basil, dried oregano, sugar, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Stir well to combine. Simmer the sauce for about 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
5. In the prepared baking dish, spread a thin layer of the sauce on the bottom.
6. Layer half of the cooked spaghetti on top of the sauce. Spread half of the remaining sauce over the spaghetti. Sprinkle half of the shredded mozzarella cheese and grated Parmesan cheese over the sauce.
7. Repeat the layers with the remaining spaghetti, sauce, mozzarella cheese, and Parmesan cheese.
8. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes.
9. Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the edges are lightly golden.
10. Remove the baked spaghetti from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley.

Serve your delicious Baked Spaghetti as a comforting soul food meal.

Enjoy!