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"A close-up of baked spaghetti recipe with meat sauce and melted cheese, being served with a fork lifting a portion."

Baked Spaghetti Recipe

This comforting baked spaghetti recipe layers tender noodles with a creamy cheese mixture and rich meat sauce, then bakes until bubbly and golden. It's budget-friendly, kid-approved, and perfect for make-ahead dinners.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Casserole, Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian-American
Calories: 540
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 12 oz Spaghetti noodles - Can sub gluten-free or whole wheat
  • 1 lb Ground beef - Or ground turkey/Italian sausage
  • ½ cup Bacon pieces - Optional but adds depth
  • 2 cups Marinara sauce - Homemade or store-bought
  • 2 tablespoon Tomato paste - Boosts richness
  • 1 can Diced tomatoes - 14.5 oz
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning - Or a mix of oregano basil, thyme
  • 2 cloves Garlic - Minced
  • 1 Onion - Chopped finely
  • 4 oz Cream cheese - Softened
  • ½ cup Sour cream - Can sub Greek yogurt
  • 1 cup Cottage cheese - Or ricotta cheese
  • 2 cups Shredded mozzarella - Divided
  • ½ cup Parmesan cheese - Divided; more for topping
  • 1 Egg - Beaten optional but recommended
  • To taste - Salt and pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon Red pepper flakes - Optional
  • 2 tablespoon Butter - For enriched top sauce layer optional
  • 2 tablespoon Bread crumbs - Optional topping with cheese + garlic
  • To garnish Fresh basil - Optional

Equipment

  • 1 9x13 inch baking dish (Glass or ceramic preferred)
  • 1 Large pot (For boiling pasta)
  • 1 Skillet (Heavy-bottomed for browning meat)
  • 1 Mixing bowl (For cheese layer)
  • 1 Colander (For draining pasta)
  • 1 Wooden spoon (For mixing sauce and pasta)

Method
 

  1. Cook the spaghetti until just under al dente and drain well.
    "A close-up of cooked spaghetti mixed with a rich meat sauce in a large pan, with steam rising."
  2. Brown the beef with onions and garlic, then simmer with sauce and spices.
    "Spaghetti mixed with cream cheese and herbs, being stirred with a wooden spoon in a glass bowl."
  3. Combine cream cheese, sour cream, and cottage cheese into a smooth mixture.
    "A close-up of spaghetti topped with meat sauce and shredded mozzarella cheese in a baking dish."
  4. Layer pasta, cheese mixture, and sauce in a greased baking dish.
    "A close-up of baked spaghetti with meatballs, topped with melted cheese and parsley, in a foil tray."
  5. Cover and bake, then uncover to finish until bubbly and golden on top.
    "A close-up of baked spaghetti recipe with meat sauce and melted cheese, being served with a fork lifting a portion."

Nutrition

Serving: 300gCalories: 540kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 28gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 13gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 90mgSodium: 820mgPotassium: 600mgFiber: 4gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 950IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 300mgIron: 4mg

Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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