Til Payday Casserole


3.8 of 5 (25)
member ratings
Nutritional Info
  • Servings Per Recipe: 10
  • Amount Per Serving
  • Calories: 268.9
  • Total Fat: 9.9 g
  • Cholesterol: 33.7 mg
  • Sodium: 145.6 mg
  • Total Carbs: 28.7 g
  • Dietary Fiber: 5.1 g
  • Protein: 18.4 g

View full nutritional breakdown of Til Payday Casserole calories by ingredient


Introduction

whenever money was tight and it was close to payday, but she had no money, my mother would make this old standard. It would last for a few meals, it was warm and comforting, you could feel the love in every bite. whenever money was tight and it was close to payday, but she had no money, my mother would make this old standard. It would last for a few meals, it was warm and comforting, you could feel the love in every bite.
Number of Servings: 10

Ingredients

    96% or greater lean ground beef, 1lb. ( I use Laura's organic)
    3 small cans of low sodium or no sodium tomato sauce, try to make sure it has no added sugar.
    8oz pkg of 2%, 1% or fat-free cheddar cheese or part-skim mozza.
    1 reg sized box of whole wheat/plus pasta ( I use Barilla Plus Penne)
    1tbsp of lowfat margerine or unsalted butter(which ever one you are watching)
    paprika
    cayenne
    oregano
    basil
    rosemary
    savory
    black pepper
    garlic
    onion

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a good sized pan, boil the water for the pasta, once boiling add pasta.
While pasta is cooking to desired tenderness, brown the seaspned ground beef in a skillet, (I use a small amount of the same seasonings that I am going to put in my sauce.)
In a third med-sized pot, add tomato sauce, margerine, about 1/8 cup of water, seasonings, onion, and garlic, cover and allow to simmer.
Drain pasta and rinse, then place it in a lrg casserole dish.
When meat is brown add it to the pasta.
Add the sauce after it has simmered at least 15mins.
Mix all the ingredients together thoroughly.
Cover with cheese
Place in oven and cook until cheese is golden brown.

If you are organized, cooking in a familiar kitchen and cleaning as you go, this dish will not take the full fifteen minute prep time. It takes me maybe 5mins to get everything cooking, then once cooked it takes a couple of mins. to mix and cover with the cheese. Since everything is done when it goes into the oven you can also cook it at a higher temp.

Serves 10
Size should be no more than a big serving spoon full. I make this in a lrg pyrex casserole dish. I pre-cut it into 10 servings, then take one.

Number of Servings: 10

Recipe submitted by SparkPeople user THECAT39.

Member Ratings For This Recipe


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    Incredible!
    10 of 10 people found this review helpful
    I've been experimenting with this one for a while now. Many yummy variations! Go heavy on the cayanne, paprika, orageno and cheddar (adding some pepper flakes) and you have Til Payday Fiesta! Focus on the oregano, basil and garlic, using mozzarella and you have Til Italian Payday! - 4/5/10


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    Very Good
    7 of 7 people found this review helpful
    Tastes wonderful.Easy to make and on the budget. - 11/16/08


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    6 of 6 people found this review helpful
    I've been making a version of this ever since I began cooking. I never used whole wheat pasta though. I'll have to try it. I also use Minute Rice instead of pasta to make it more TexMex style. You can also add a can of vegetables, either green peas or corn and have a complete dish. - 9/14/10


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    4 of 4 people found this review helpful
    I made this for years, originally from Betty Crocker called "Texas Hash" with chili powder and onion, no precooking the pasta. Once I put too much chili in it and my hungry children scarfed it down, not saying a word, but with tears running down their faces until I realized what happened. - 9/14/10


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    Incredible!
    4 of 4 people found this review helpful
    Love this!! We used 1/2 tomato sauce and 1/2 diced tomatoes. - 8/19/10


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    Bad
    4 of 5 people found this review helpful
    This came out poorly for me. No salt tomato sauce didn't taste very good and it could use more seasonings then I tried. I needed more sauce (with salt) to make it not dry. I think with specific quantities of pasta and tomato sauce along with approx amounts for spices this could be a good recipe. - 1/6/09


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    3 of 3 people found this review helpful
    my mama called this "poor mans supper" we would have it a lot when I was growing up. She put in what she called a "nickel's worth" of spices (using the palm of your hand pour spices out until it is a nickel's size) Also she only used the Italian seasonings, 1 clove of garlic, and 1/4 of an onion. - 9/14/10


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    Very Good
    3 of 3 people found this review helpful
    Very yummy. For those who were wondering about the spices I used one 1/2 tsp of each spice in both the meat and sauce. It was a little on the spicy side though, next time I'll probably reduce the cayenne to 1/4 tsp in sauce and meat. - 3/16/09


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    3 of 3 people found this review helpful
    It's one of my comfort foods. My mom made this one too. Brought up great memories. - 12/19/07


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    Incredible!
    2 of 2 people found this review helpful
    With a husband who won't eat pasta I added diced up potatoes instead of pasta and the whole family loved it. Frozen diced hash browns would be easy to use, too. - 9/14/10


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    Good
    2 of 3 people found this review helpful
    I was hoping for another option other than noodles. I am trying to stay away from flour. Sounds good and filling though. - 9/14/10


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    2 of 2 people found this review helpful
    Tasty, cheap, and quick. Thanks! - 9/14/10


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    2 of 2 people found this review helpful
    Not only inexpensive but quick, awesome recipe. It's good that the spices are mild. The toddlers can tolerate it with no problem and the adults up the flavor on their plate at the table. - 9/14/10


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    Good
    2 of 3 people found this review helpful
    A good, simple, cheap recipe. It was very good and easy to prepare. - 7/24/10


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    Very Good
    2 of 2 people found this review helpful
    I'll need more sauce next time, but this was very good. With lots of leftovers too. Hoping this is like lasagna and the leftover taste even better! - 1/19/10


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    Very Good
    2 of 2 people found this review helpful
    I made this a couple nights ago and ALL 5 boys loved it! Success! I left out the cayenne because we're not into spicy but it was still a bit too much for us picky eaters, so next time I'll ditch the pepper too ;o) - 9/6/09


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    Very Good
    2 of 2 people found this review helpful
    quite tasty. Be sure to add lots of spices, or else it turns out rather bland. Also, I'd recommend perhaps an extra can of tomato sauce and some more water as it turned out dry. But a definite try again--lots of flavor and a great value! - 1/20/09


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    Incredible!
    2 of 2 people found this review helpful
    quick, tasty and easy - 12/3/07


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    Incredible!
    1 of 1 people found this review helpful
    I have made this for years now. I add fresh onions, mushrooms sliced and a can of sliced olives. Now that there is healthier pasta to buy it is better for you too. - 9/19/10


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    1 of 1 people found this review helpful
    will give it a try - 9/14/10


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    Incredible!
    1 of 2 people found this review helpful
    I was lacking most of the seasonings, so for the pasta I subbed two packets of top ramen and used their seasonings with a bit of garlic. Delicious! - 12/15/08


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    Very Good
    1 of 1 people found this review helpful
    Filling and tasty. Most importantly, something my picky preschoolers will eat! - 1/20/08


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    This was very good, my whole family enjoyed it - 1/11/11


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    MADE THIS LAST NIGHT REALLY GOOD - 1/7/11


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    Very Good
    Very good; watch spices for girls though - 12/3/10


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    Very Good
    My kids loved this! - 9/23/10


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    Very Good
    Quick and easy to prepare - We ate half and froze the other half! I used Ground Turkey and Turkey Italian Sausage...very yummy! - 9/20/10


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    I wanted to make this today but in reviewing the quantity breakdown of ingredients per serving, the spices specifically, they seemed excessive. Either my math is faulty, a distinct possibility, or there is an error. I may try it anyway but with adjustments. Are amounts given correct? - 9/16/10


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    Good
    0 of 2 people found this review helpful
    Sounds like it will tasty. - 9/14/10


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    Incredible!
    0 of 2 people found this review helpful
    I'm looking forward to trying this fast and easy recipe for my husband ~ thanks! - 9/14/10


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    0 of 2 people found this review helpful
    save - 9/14/10


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    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
    would taco seasoning mix work just as well for the spices? I think I'll try that cuz some of these spices I don't have, the mix will be cheaper to buy then several spices I think... sounds great though, will try it! - 12/11/08


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    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
    this sounds very good, but how much of each spice is to be added a pinch or tsp? - 11/11/08