For the crust:
4 cups spaghetti, cooked
1/3 cup butter, melted
2 large eggs
1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated
For the filling:
3/4 cup cottage cheese
1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
For the sauce:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound lean ground beef
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon salt
ground black pepper, to taste
1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
Step 1 - Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2 - Spray 2 large muffin pans with cooking spray.
Step 3 - In a bowl, mix the spaghetti and the butter together.
Step 4 - In another bowl, whisk the eggs.
Step 5 - Add 1/2 cup of the parmesan cheese to the eggs and mix well.
Step 6 - Pour the egg mixture over the spaghetti mixture and mix well.
Step 7 - Evenly divide the spaghetti mixture into the prepared muffin cups.
Step 8 - Press the spaghetti into the muffin cups to form a little nest in each cup.
Step 9 - In a bowl, mix the cottage cheese and the remaining parmesan together.
Step 10 - Spread the cottage cheese mixture over the inside of each of the spaghetti nests.
Step 11 - In a large skillet, add the olive oil, the beef, the basil, the garlic powder, the onion powder, the red pepper flakes, the salt, and the pepper and cook until the meat is no longer pink, about 5 to 7 minutes. Drain the excess grease.
Step 12 - Add the tomato sauce to the beef mixture and simmer, while stirring, until heated through, about 10 minutes.
Step 13 - Spoon the sauce over the spaghetti nests.
Step 14 - Top the sauce with the mozzarella cheese.
Step 15 - Bake until the cheese is lightly browned, about 30 minutes.
Step 16 - Serve warm.
Time: 1 hour
Yield: 12 servings