editorial image of spaghetti and meatballs

An American Classic

Spaghetti & Meatballs

Ingredients

1 jar Apastioli Classic Italian Red Sauce
1 lb spaghetti
1 lb Italian meatballs (homemade or quality store-bought)
2 tbsp olive oil
Fresh basil or parsley (optional)
Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
Salt, to taste
Instructions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook spaghetti according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
Pour in the Apastioli Classic Italian Red Sauce, reduce heat to low, and simmer.
Toss the cooked spaghetti with the sauce or plate pasta and spoon meatballs and sauce over the top.
Finish with fresh herbs and grated Parmesan if desired. Serve hot and enjoy. 🍝

Intermediate Skill Level

Meat Lasagna

Ingredients
1 lb ground hamburger meat
1 jar Apastioli Classic Italian Red Sauce
9–12 lasagna noodles
15 oz ricotta cheese
1 egg

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tbsp olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste
Optional: Italian seasoning or dried parsley
Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°F. Cook lasagna noodles according to package directions, drain, and set aside.
In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Brown the hamburger meat, season with salt and pepper, and drain excess fat. Stir in the sauce and simmer for 5 minutes.
In a bowl, mix ricotta cheese, egg, and half of the Parmesan until combined.
In a baking dish, spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom. Add a layer of noodles, ricotta mixture, meat sauce, and mozzarella. Repeat layers until ingredients are used, finishing with sauce and remaining mozzarella and Parmesan on top.
Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 10–15 minutes until bubbly and lightly browned.
Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving. 🍽️

A Personal Favorite

Chicken Parmesan

Ingredients
2–3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 jar Apastioli Classic Italian Red Sauce
1 cup Italian-style breadcrumbs
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
2 eggs
½ cup flour
Olive oil (for frying)
Salt and pepper, to taste
Optional: fresh basil or parsley
Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°F. Slice chicken breasts in half lengthwise and season both sides with salt and pepper.
Set up a breading station: flour in one bowl, beaten eggs in another, and breadcrumbs mixed with Parmesan in a third.
Dredge chicken in flour, dip in egg, then coat with breadcrumb mixture.
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and pan-fry chicken until golden brown on both sides (about 3–4 minutes per side).
Transfer chicken to a baking dish, spoon Apastioli Classic Italian Red Sauce over each piece, and top with mozzarella.
Bake uncovered for 15–20 minutes, until chicken is cooked through and cheese is melted and bubbly.
Garnish with fresh herbs if desired and serve with pasta or a side salad. 🍗🍅

Easy, Quick, Delicious

Baked Ziti or Rigatoni

Ingredients
1 lb ziti pasta
1 jar (24 oz) Apastioli Classic Italian Red Sauce
1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage (optional)
1 tsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
1 tsp Italian seasoning (optional)
1½ cups ricotta cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Fresh basil or parsley (optional, for garnish)

Instructions
Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish.
Cook ziti in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
Brown meat (optional): Heat olive oil in a skillet, add ground beef or sausage, season with salt and pepper, and cook until browned. Drain excess fat.
Combine sauce: Add Apastioli Classic Italian Red Sauce to the meat (or warm sauce alone if skipping meat). Simmer 5 minutes.

Assemble: In a large bowl, mix cooked ziti with sauce and ricotta. Transfer to baking dish.
Top with cheese: Sprinkle mozzarella evenly over the top, then finish with Parmesan.

Bake uncovered for 25–30 minutes, until bubbly and lightly golden.
Rest & serve: Let sit 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley if desired.
Tip

Serve with garlic bread and a simple salad for a complete, comforting meal.