Description

This Easy Baked Spaghetti recipe is a comforting and cheesy Italian-inspired casserole perfect for weeknight dinners. Combining tender spaghetti, flavorful ground beef or Italian sausage, and a rich marinara sauce blended with cream cheese and Italian seasoning, then topped with layers of mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, it bakes to a bubbly, golden perfection. Simple to prepare, this dish serves 8 and brings a delicious, hearty meal to your table in under an hour.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta

1 pound spaghetti

Meat Sauce

1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage
3 cups marinara sauce
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning

Cheese Mixture & Toppings

8 ounces cream cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)

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Instructions

Preheat and prepare baking dish. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to ensure the baked spaghetti doesn’t stick.
Cook spaghetti. Boil the spaghetti in salted water until al dente, then drain it well and set aside for layering.
Brown the meat. In a medium skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef or Italian sausage, breaking it apart as it cooks. Once fully cooked, drain any excess fat to keep the dish from becoming greasy.
Simmer sauce with seasoning. Add marinara sauce and Italian seasoning to the browned meat in the skillet. Let the mixture simmer gently for about 5 minutes to meld flavors.
Melt in cream cheese. Stir in the cream cheese until it melts completely and creates a smooth, creamy sauce.
Layer the casserole. In the prepared baking dish, spread half of the cooked spaghetti evenly, then cover with half of the meat and sauce mixture. Sprinkle half of the shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese over the top.
Repeat layers. Add the remaining half of the spaghetti, followed by the rest of the sauce mixture, and then top with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.
Bake covered. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes to heat through and melt cheese.
Bake uncovered to brown. Remove the foil and continue baking for another 10 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown on top.
Rest and garnish. Allow the baked spaghetti to rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. Optionally, garnish with chopped fresh parsley for a pop of color and fresh flavor.

Notes

Use Italian sausage for a more robust flavor or ground beef for a classic taste.
Ensure the cream cheese is at room temperature to help it blend smoothly into the sauce.
For a vegetarian option, substitute the meat with cooked mushrooms or plant-based ground meat.
The dish can be prepared ahead and refrigerated before baking; just add a few extra minutes to baking time if baking cold.
Leftovers keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat nicely in the oven or microwave.