Friendship Casserole {Share Dinner with a Friend}

Friendship Casserole is a great freezer meal or to share dinner with a friend. 

Have you ever had a Friendship Casserole? This is one of my favorite casseroles to make for my family and friends. If you've already tasted this casserole considered yourself blessed, if not, let me explain what it is.

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

If you're freezing the second casserole prepare and assemble both casseroles. Bake one and then cover the second unbaked casserole with plastic wrap (I double it), then cover with aluminum foil, label, date and place the casserole in the freezer for dinner on another day. 

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. I also like to wrap a pretty bow around the whole baking dish and add a wooden spoon as a extra touch.

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're a special part of your life.

This casserole not only cheers up the gift recipient but also the person gifting 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.
 

Don't forget to include a copy of the recipe and baking instructions for the person you're gifting this casserole to.

Friendship Casserole
{mommyskitchen.net}

Ingredients:
2 - lbs ground beef or ground turkey
1/2 - cup green pepper, chopped 
1/2 - cup onion, chopped 
3/4 - cup sliced fresh mushrooms
1 - 48 oz jar good quality spaghetti sauce or use homemade 
1  - 16 oz pkg medium egg noodles (I prefer no yolk dumplings)
1/2 - cup butter
1/4 - teaspoon onion powder
1/4 - teaspoon garlic powder
½ - cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 - 16 oz pkg shredded mozzarella or shredded Italian cheese blend
2 - 13 x 9 inch disposable aluminum pans 

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large skillet, add the ground beef and brown, breaking up the meat as it cooks. Drain off any fat. 

Add the green pepper, onion and mushrooms and saute with the meat for an additional 5 minutes. Add spaghetti sauce and simmer for 20 minutes. 

While the sauce is cooking start cooking the pasta. Cook the pasta according to package directions for (al dente). Drain and toss with butter, garlic, powder, onion powder and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese. Spray two 13 x 9 inch pans with non-stick spray.  

In each baking pan add half of the meat sauce, divide the pasta equally between the two baking pans. Add the remainder of the meat sauce in each pan (over the pasta). Top each of the baking pans with shredded mozzarella or Italian cheese blend.   

Cover with foil that has been sprayed with non stick spray and bake for 35 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 5 minutes.  

For Gifting: If gifting the second casserole present it unbaked. This way if the person you are giving the casserole doesn't want to eat it right away, they can freeze it. Wrap the casserole in double plastic wrap and a add layer of foil. Add a bow around the whole baking dish and slide a wooden spoon under the bow along with a recipe card with baking instructions

Freezing Instructions: If you're freezing the second casserole prepare and assemble both casseroles. Bake one and then wrap the second one unbaked with plastic wrap (I use double plastic wrap), then cover with aluminum foil, label, date and place the casserole in the freezer for another day. When ready to use remove from freezer, thaw completely and bake. 

Servings 12 - 16 for two casseroles