Description
Monterey spaghetti brings creamy, cheesy comfort straight from California kitchens to dinner tables. Packed with tender pasta, melted cheese, and green onions, this dish promises quick satisfaction and pure deliciousness you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
- 1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
- 4 ounces (113 grams) spaghetti, noodles broken into 2-inch pieces, cooked
- 1 (2.8-ounce) can crispy fried onions
Dairy and Binding Ingredients:
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
Seasoning:
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C), creating the perfect environment for baking the cheesy spaghetti dish.
- Thoroughly coat a 2-quart baking dish with cooking spray or butter to prevent sticking.
- Whisk the egg in a spacious mixing bowl until smooth and well-blended.
- Incorporate sour cream, parmesan cheese, and garlic powder into the egg, stirring until the mixture becomes uniform and creamy.
- Gently fold in the cooked spaghetti, ensuring each strand is evenly coated with the creamy mixture.
- Add Monterey Jack cheese and fresh spinach, mixing carefully to distribute ingredients throughout the pasta.
- Sprinkle half of the crispy fried onions into the spaghetti mixture, providing a preliminary crunch.
- Transfer the entire spaghetti blend into the prepared baking dish, spreading evenly to ensure consistent cooking.
- Cover the dish and bake for 30 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the cheese to become bubbly.
- Remove from oven, uncover, and top with remaining crispy fried onions.
- Return to oven for an additional 5 minutes until onions turn golden brown and crisp.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 2-3 minutes before serving to allow settling and easier portioning.
Notes
- Swap sour cream with Greek yogurt for a lighter, protein-packed version that maintains creamy texture.
- Use gluten-free spaghetti to make this dish completely gluten-free without compromising taste or texture.
- Enhance nutritional value by adding extra vegetables like diced bell peppers or zucchini to the mixture for more color and nutrients.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days, reheating gently to prevent cheese from separating or becoming rubbery.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 579 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 670 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 22 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 190 mg