Description
This classic Baked Spaghetti is a comforting and hearty dish featuring tender spaghetti noodles coated in a creamy cream cheese mixture, layered with a savory ground beef and garlic tomato sauce, then topped with melted Parmesan and Mozzarella cheeses. Baked to bubbly perfection, it’s an easy-to-make crowd-pleaser perfect for family dinners or meal prep.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 ounces dried spaghetti noodles
Meat Sauce
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 to 2 jars (24 ounces each) spaghetti sauce
Creamy Mixture
- 1 block (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
Cheeses
- 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Baking Dish: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking and set it aside.
- Cook Ground Beef and Garlic: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook and crumble the ground beef along with the minced garlic until the beef is no longer pink. Drain any excess grease from the skillet to keep the sauce lean, then stir in the spaghetti sauce. Remove the skillet from heat.
- Cook Spaghetti and Mix Cream Cheese: Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the spaghetti noodles according to the package directions until al dente. Drain the noodles well, then return them to the empty pot while still hot. Add the softened cream cheese, Italian seasoning, and dried basil to the noodles, stirring continuously until the cream cheese has melted and the noodles are thoroughly coated.
- Layer in Baking Dish: Spread a small amount of the meat sauce evenly over the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Pour in the creamy coated noodles and spread them out evenly. Then, pour the remaining meat sauce evenly over the noodles. Finally, sprinkle the shredded Parmesan and Mozzarella cheeses evenly on top.
- Bake and Serve: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the casserole is hot and bubbly and the cheese is melted. Remove from the oven and let it stand for 10 minutes before cutting into squares and serving. Enjoy your delicious baked spaghetti!
Notes
- You can use either one jar or two jars of spaghetti sauce depending on how saucy you like your baked spaghetti.
- For softer cheese texture, ensure the cream cheese is at room temperature before mixing.
- Feel free to add vegetables like bell peppers or mushrooms to the meat sauce for added nutrition and flavor.
- This dish can be assembled a day ahead and baked just before serving.
- Leftovers can be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven.
