My version of this classic meal uses a combination of onions, garlic, baby spinach, ground venison and a blend of dried Italian seasonings. A winning combo of flavor all on its own. Mix the meat with lightly buttered pasta noodles and top with freshly sliced mozzarella cheese and you have a Dish that’s a sure-fire way of getting attention at the dinner table.
Minimal ingredients transformed into a bowlful of carbed Comfort Food!
Servings: 4
Equipment
- 8x8 baking dish
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground venison
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 cup baby spinach, packed tight
- 2 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp thyme
- 1 tsp granulated garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 2 cups Gemelli pasta, uncooked
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 5 slices of fresh mozzarella cheese, 1/4 inch thick
Instructions
- Heat oven to 375 degrees.
- Boil two cups of dry pasta as instructed on the package. Drain and set aside.
- While the pasta is cooking, heat a skillet over medium heat and add oil, 1 tablespoon butter, onions and garlic. Cook until the onions soften, about 5 minutes. Add the ground venison to the skillet and cook until browned. Add the baby spinach to the ground meat and stir to combine. Season with the oregano, thyme, garlic powder and salt. Remove from heat.
- Add the cooked pasta, tomato paste and the remaining butter into an 8x8 baking dish stirring everything together. Cover the pasta with the ground venison and top with the mozzarella cheese slices.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until the cheese is fully melted.
Notes
If you want more sauce in your Burger Helper, add a cup of pasta sauce to the noodles prior to baking.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
