“Italian Burger Trittini”

When I began cooking family meals as a teenager, Mom would allow me to come up with my own recipes. I find myself cooking as Mom and my grandmother did. Mom and Granny seldom used a written recipe and cooked everything by taste. Little dab of this and a dab of that is how they cooked. My Italian Burger Trittini is one of those recipes. It was a family favorite. My recipe was definitely one of my Dad’s favorites because he loves cheese. Now it is a fav with my husband.

Italian Burger Trittini

Italian Burger Trittini is made with a thick, rich homemade sauce of ground beef, onion, mushrooms, tomato sauce and paste. Add in a little sugar, basil, oregano, salt and pepper. Chopped spinach and cottage cheese are combined, layering meat sauce, spinach mixture, topping with cheese. Now, there’s a beefy, cheesy casserole that’s kid-friendly as well. Great way to get your kids to eat spinach. Makes great leftovers and freezes well.

This recipe is fairly quick and super easy to prepare on a weeknight. Italian Burger Trittini can be prepped the night before. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before placing in oven. I love dishes made this way. While casserole is baking, you can make a salad or other side to go along with like warm garlic bread. I promise you this recipe will become a favorite with your family especially since fall is upon us. Share your feedback when you make my recipe.

Italian Burger Trittini

Italian Burger Trittini

2 pounds lean ground beef

1 medium onion, minced

1 – 15 oz. can tomato sauce

2 – 6 oz. cans tomato paste

1 – 4 oz. can sliced mushrooms, drained

2 t. dried basil

2 t. sugar

1 t. dried oregano

1 t. salt

1/4 t. pepper

2 – 10 oz. packages frozen chopped spinach, thawed

1 – 16 oz. container small curd cottage cheese

8 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown ground beef and onion. Add tomato sauce and next 7 ingredients; heat to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.

Meanwhile, squeeze as much water from spinach as possible. In a medium bowl with fork, mix together spinach and cottage cheese.

In a 13”x9” baking dish, spoon in meat mixture; sprinkle on half of mozzarella cheese; top with spinach mixture. Sprinkle remaining mozzarella cheese on top spinach mixture. Bake at 375 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

Serve with toasty garlic bread.