This is a classic example of being creative with ingredients you have on hand.
I made this for us early last week…using up the tomatoes from Aldi from the week before, and the feta cheese from Monday’s shopping trip. Also, this is another example of a meal that uses an “expensive ingredient,” that is paired with a few other inexpensive ingredients and pantry staples to keep the overall cost of the meal down.
(Feta = expensive…pasta/tomatoes/egg = inexpensive.)
This meal ended up being dinner for just Steve and I (the kids had leftovers since they can’t have dairy) and after his first bite, Steve began staking claims on the leftovers. He took what was left for lunch to work the next day…and the “euchre lunch club” was insanely jealous of his “gourmet lunch.” Amazing how a few simple ingredients can be cooked up in a way that is “gourmet” but still very inexpensive to put together!
Enjoy…
Three Cheese Spaghetti Bake
Ingredients
- 10 oz. whole grain spaghetti noodles
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 pint grape tomatoes
- 1 small onion chopped
- 6 oz. package Feta cheese
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup milk
- 2 large eggs
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat to 350.
- Cook the pasta noodles as directed. Drain and rinse with cold water. (If you don't rinse, the heat from the pasta can cook the eggs in the cheese mixture...so get them nice and cool before combining.)
- Meanwhile, in a large, ovenproof skillet, heat the olive oil and balsamic vinegar and saute the tomatoes and chopped onion, for 3 to 5 minutes, or until most of the tomatoes have "popped."
- In a mixing bowl, combine the Feta, Parmesan, mozzarella, milk and eggs. Once the pasta is rinsed and cooled, fold it into the cheese mixture.
- Then combine the cheese-pasta mixture with the sauteed onions and tomatoes. Spread flat in the skillet.
- Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes, or until eggs have set in the middle. Let cool slightly before cutting and serving.
- Serve Three Cheese Spaghetti Pie with side salad, fresh fruit or vegetables (whatever you have on hand!).
Liz@PocketChangeGourmet says
Thanks for hosting Erin! Have a great week!
~Liz
Tara @ Crock-Pot Ladies says
Thanks for the linky party! I just posted a recipe for Crock-Pot Cheese, Beer and Bratwurst Soup which may not be the healthiest ever but economical and tasty!
Justa says
Love your site and all the great $5 Dinner Challenges! So many great recipes and blogs. I just shared (I hope…first timer!) Buffalo Bean Patties for Meatless Monday. 🙂
Lori Gagnon says
Made the Three Cheese Spaghetti Bake last night with what I had on hand – used petite diced tomatoes, didn’t have balsamic vinegar so replaced with 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar and 1/2 tsp sugar. Also used xtra sharp cheddar, mozzerella blend and feta. Must say it came out great, the whole family loved it. Helped me use what was on hand – thanks so much!
Gonna post to my blog:)
Lori
http://www.applegrovetreasures.blogspot.com
Jamie says
This was great! Cleaning out the fridge when I found a lonely pint of grape tomatoes way at the very back. We had no feta- I just skipped that line of the recipe, and it was still really good. I added some dried basil and lots of black pepper to my cheese mixture- really amazed at the flavor! Thanks for the idea!