Friendship Casserole {Share Dinner with a Friend}

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Have you ever had a Friendship Casserole? It's one of my favorite casseroles to make. If you have already tasted this casserole considered yourself blessed, if you haven't let me explain what it is.

The reason it is called Friendship Casserole is because this recipe makes two casseroles. One for yourself and one to share with a friend!!! If you like you can also double up on your casseroles and keep them both for yourself, just cook one and freeze the second casserole.

My favorite way by far is to share with a friend. When I give this casserole out to a friend I like to present it unbaked. I do this just in case they don't want to eat the casserole on that particular day.

What I like to do is prepare and assemble both casseroles. I bake one for my family and then I take the second unbaked casserole and double wrap it with plastic wrap and then cover with aluminum foil.I also like to wrap a pretty bow around the whole baking dish and you can even add a pretty spoon.

As a extra touch I like to slide a recipe card under the bow and present my dish in that manner. That way if the gift recipient is to busy to eat the casserole on that particular day, then they can freeze it or place it in the refrigerator for the next day.

This way they have the recipe card handy with the baking instructions. Plus they also have the recipe so they to can prepare and pass on this lovely casserole to a friend in need. I love to surprise my friends with a Friendship Casserole out the blue.

Try and think of someone who might need a reminder that they have friends who care about them. A new mom in your neighborhood, a family who’s moving, someone with an illness or just someone that needs to be reminded that they are a special part of your life.

This casserole not only cheers up the gift recipient but also the person giving it. I like to take my children along with me when we pass on a friendship casserole. I want them to experience that giving is just as wonderful as receiving.

This casserole is really easy and pretty quick to assemble. It also utilized pantry ingredients making this dish very economical.

Friendship Casserole

Ingredients:
2 - lbs ground beef
1 - 48 oz jar spaghetti sauce
2 - tablespoons sugar
1  - 16 oz pkg medium egg noodles
1/2 - cup margarine or butter
½ - teaspoon onion salt (or onion powder)
½ - teaspoon garlic salt (or garlic powder)
½ - cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 - 12 oz pkg shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 - cup each sauteed green pepper, onion & mushrooms, optional

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350º Brown meat and drain fat. Add spaghetti sauce and sugar to meat; simmer 20 minutes. 

Cook noodles as directed (al dente); drain and toss with margarine, salts and Parmesan cheese. Spray two 9x13 pans with non-stick spray. 

In each pan layer half the sauce, all the noodles, rest of sauce; top with mozzarella cheese. Cover with foil; bake 45 minutes.

Cook's Note: The sauteed green bell peppers, onions and mushrooms is optional. Make sure the person you are gifting this wonderful casserole to likes those types of veggies. If not just leave them out.
Since this recipe makes enough for two casseroles, plan one for your family and one for a friend. Think of someone who might need a reminder that they have friends who care about them - a new mom in your neighborhood, a family who’s moving, someone with an illness.

To print off the recipe card above to go along with your casserole. Click on the recipe card to view it in its full version. Right click on your mouse and print picture.