Baked Chicken Ziti and Spaghetti with Meat Balls

1 box ziti pasta, cooked (FREE)
1 jar of pasta sauce (FREE)
Mozzarella cheese ($0.50)
Shredded chicken, cooked (approx $2)

Heat oven to 350*F, grease 2 baking dishes
Mix cooked ziti, chicken, pasta sauce and small amount of cheese in bowl (I just use a large pot that I cooked the pasta in). Spread evenly into 2 baking dishes and top both with cheese.
Bake for approx. 20 min., until cheese is melted and meal is heated through.

Notes:
*I used Crock Pot Chicken; you could also use ground turkey or ground beef.
*This time I used a jar of Trader Joe’s 3 Cheese Pasta Sauce (given to me by my mother-in-law), so I omitted the extra cheese in the mixture.
*I split into 2 meals because we have a small family
*DON’T bake 2nd meal if you intend to freeze it, just cover tightly with foil and freeze.
*Super cheap and easy meal!

Spaghetti with Meat Balls:

Spaghetti Sauce:
Medium–Large Onion, Chopped
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
5 or 6 Cloves Garlic, chopped
½ Tbsp Oregano
½ Tbsp Basal
3 Tbsp Sugar
S/P
Shake Red Pepper Flakes
Large Can (29oz) Diced Tomatoes
Large Can (29oz) Tomato Sauce
Medium Can (12oz) Tomato Paste
½ C Red Wine
Half Carrot Thinly peeled

Heat oil in pan, add onion and sauté. Add garlic and cook approx 30 sec. Add remaining ingredients. Simmer 2 hours. Add Meat Balls (see below) when 30 min. remain for sauce. Serve over pasta.

Notes:
*Cover with cocked lid if sauce is too liquidy, cover tightly if too thick.
*Add S/P and Red Pepper Flakes to taste
* You could make using fresh tomatoes
* I transfer ½ to Tupperware to freeze, you could split 3X

Meat Balls:
1 1/2lbs ground beef (or ground turkey)
Medium onion, chopped
1 egg
1 C Italian Breadcrumbs
2 Tbsp Parsley
S/P

Form into balls and brown in oven
Bake 325*F for 20 min. Flip ½ way through cooking time

Note:
*I make 2 batches since it is a little time consuming (just double receipt).
*I used meatballs to make meatball subs-add cooked meatballs to pasta sauce, heat. Place on sub roll with cheese. Hubby and kids LOVED it-I wasn’t thrilled with the meat on bread.