Freezer Veggie, Beef and Pasta Bake
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 cup sliced onion
- 1 cup diced zucchini
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 (28 ounce) can stewed tomatoes (796 mL) or 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice (796 mL)
- 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soya sauce
- 12 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 cups rotini pasta (or other spiral pasta)
- 1 12 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- Preheat oven to 350F Use a 13 x 9 inch Baking Dish, Greased.
- In a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat, combine ground beef, onions, zucchini and garlic; cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until beef is no longer pink and vegetables are softened.
- Drain fat; pour beef mixture into baking dish.
- Set aside.
- Meanwhile, drain juice from tomatoes in an 8 cup microwave safe measuring cup; add water to make 2 cups.
- Roughly chop tomatoes; add to measuring cup.
- Stir in soya sauce and red pepper flakes.
- Microwave on High for 5 minutes or until very hot.
- Stir in rotini.
- Pour tomato pasta mixture into baking dish and combine with meat mixture.
- Press pasta down to make sure it is submerged in the liquid.
- Bake in preheated oven, covered, for 20 minutes.
- Remove cover; stir gently and sprinkle with cheese.
- Bake, uncovered, for 15 to 20 minutes or until pasta is tender.
- Serves 6.
- TO FREEZE: Wrap well in plastic wrap, then foil.
- Freeze for up to 3 months.
- TO SERVE: Thaw in microwave or in refrigerator overnight.
- Preheat oven to 350F Unwrap and bake, uncovered, for 40 to 45 minutes or until bubbly.
- Tip: If you are concerned about sodium, use light soya sauce instead of the regular variety.
- One tablespoons regular soya sauce contains 1037 mg sodium; the same amount of sodium reduced or light soya sauce contains only 605 mg.
- FREEZER TIP: This quick family meal is even faster to make when you have tomatoes and zucchini handy in the freezer.
- Vegetables will freeze well for up to 1 year.
- The Best Freezer Cookbook.
lean ground beef, onion, zucchini, garlic, tomatoes, soya sauce, red pepper, rotini pasta, cheddar cheese
Taken from www.food.com/recipe/freezer-veggie-beef-and-pasta-bake-177824 (may not work)