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    Home » Food » Southern Baked Spaghetti

    Southern Baked Spaghetti

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    oven-baked spaghetti on a plate with a fork

    This easy Southern Baked Spaghetti recipe is quick and easy to make. Spaghetti pasta is combined with the sauce, ground beef, and three kinds of gooey cheese for a savory, family-friendly delicious dinner.

    oven-baked spaghetti on a plate with a fork

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    Baked Spaghetti Casserole

    This is the best baked spaghetti because it's an easy meal and a perfect weeknight dinner. It's easy and quick to make.

    The seasoned meat sauce is combined with spaghetti noodles and three types of cheese in a baking dish. Rather than traditional spaghetti, you can serve this cheesy casserole with minimal effort. 

    Oven-Baked Spaghetti is similar to lasagna, with a few different cheese flavors and less effort. It will quickly become a family favorite!

    Traditional spaghetti with meat sauce is taken up a notch with gooey cheese and baked to perfection. It's an easy recipe the whole family will love.

    It's a perfect dish for family gatherings because it's easy to make a large 9x13 pan of it and serve with a green salad.

    Ingredients for oven-baked spaghetti

    • avocado oil
    • medium onion
    • kosher salt & ground black pepper
    • lean ground beef
    • garlic
    • marinara or spaghetti sauce
    • uncooked spaghetti
    • Italian seasoning
    • cream cheese
    • cottage cheese
    • mozzarella cheese
    ingredients to make oven baked spaghetti

    How to make baked spaghetti

    1. Heat the oven to 350ºF and spray a 9x13 casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray. 

    2. In a large skillet, heat avocado oil over medium-high heat and add the onion. Season with kosher salt and black pepper. Mix to combine. 

    3. Add the ground beef and season with Italian seasoning. 

    4. Cook about 6-8 minutes, stirring frequently breaking up the ground beef into crumbles until cooked through. 

    5. Add the garlic to the skillet and mix. Saute for about 1 minute, just until fragrant. Be sure not to burn the garlic.  

    6. Set 1 cup of marinara aside and add the remaining sauce to the cooked ground beef mixture. Turn the heat to low and let it heat through. 

    7. While the beef cooks, cook spaghetti according to the package directions to al dente. 

    8. Drain spaghetti and mix in the reserved 1 cup of marinara sauce with the cooked spaghetti. 

    9. In a separate mixing bowl, combine the cottage cheese and cream cheese. Mix until it's smooth. 

    10. Add half of the spaghetti mixture to the prepared baking dish. Spread until it's in an even layer.

    11. Top the noodles with all of the cottage cheese and cream cheese mixture. Spread it until it's in an even layer over the pasta. 

    12. Top the cream cheese and cottage cheese mixture with the remaining cooked noodles. Spread until even. 

    13. Pour the pasta sauce and meat mixture over the top of the noodles. Smooth it out into an even layer. 

    14. Top with lots of mozzarella cheese. 

    15. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbling. 

    16. Remove from the oven and allow it to cool for about 10 minutes before cutting and serving. 

    onions and seasoning in a skillet
    ground beef, seasonings, and onions in a skillet
    hearty meat sauce mixture in a skillet
    cooked spaghetti noodles and marinara mixed together in a pot
    cream cheese and cottage cheese mixed together in a bowl
    spaghetti noodle mixture in a casserole dish
    spaghetti noodle mix topped with cream cheese and cottage cheese mix
    spaghetti mix on top of the cream cheese mixture
    meat sauce poured over the top of the spaghetti mix
    baked spaghetti in a casserole dish before going in oven

    Substitutions and additions for spaghetti bake

    Ground beef - You can substitute the ground beef with Italian sausage, ground turkey, ground sausage, or even ground tofu for a vegetarian version. You want this to be a hearty meat sauce, so use one that holds up to the marinara.

    Green Pepper - you can add chopped green pepper to the onions when sautéing the sauce. This will not only add flavor, but it will bulk it up with veggies. The bell pepper can be added with the onions and softened. 

    Cremini Mushrooms - Baby Bella or cremini mushrooms would go great in this recipe. You can add them into the onions when sautéing for the sauce. 

    Cream cheese - you can replace the cream cheese with part-skim ricotta cheese if you prefer. I find that cream cheese gives a much better texture and flavor than ricotta cheese, but both work well. 

    Avocado oil - you can substitute the avocado oil with olive oil or any other neutral-tasting oil.

    Red pepper flakes - you can add red pepper flakes to the meat mixture to add a little bit of spice.

    Spaghetti pasta - you can use standard spaghetti or thin spaghetti noodles, both work well.

    Toppings for this easy baked spaghetti recipe

    • fresh basil
    • Fresh Parmesan cheese 
    • Black olives

    What to serve with this baked spaghetti meal

    • Garlic bread or garlic toast
    • Roasted broccoli
    • Parmesan breadsticks
    • Side salad
    easy baked spaghetti on a plate with a fork

    tips for making oven-baked spaghetti

    • If you don't use lean ground beef, be sure to drain it before adding the marinara sauce. Otherwise, your baked spaghetti will be greasy. 
    • When it comes to the marinara sauce, use your favorite. Whether that's a bottled sauce, a basic tomato sauce, a classic marinara pasta sauce, or a homemade sauce, use the one you like most. 
    • You can use a 13×9-inch or 3-quart baking dish.
    • It's not required, but I recommend using part-skim mozzarella cheese that's been freshly grated. Pre-shredded cheese has an anti-caking agent that prevents it from melting as well. 
    Can you make baked spaghetti vegetarian?

    It's easy to make baked spaghetti vegetarian. Just omit the ground beef. Sauté the onions and garlic, add the marinara, and continue with the recipe as written.

    Products to make baked spaghetti

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    Can cheesy baked spaghetti be frozen?

    Yes, baked spaghetti can be frozen. You can freeze it in individual servings or as a whole casserole. It's one of my favorite freezer meals.

    Allow the casserole to cool completely. Cover and store in a freezer-safe, airtight container for up to 6 months. 

    How to store and reheat leftover baked spaghetti

    To store leftover baked spaghetti, allow it to cool completely. Place it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. 

    I find that it's even better the next day when all of the flavors have had a chance to combine even more.

    The best way to reheat a pasta bake is in the oven. Place it in an oven-safe dish, cover it with a lid or aluminum foil, and heat it in a 350ºF oven until heated through.

    You can also use a microwave. Place it on a microwave-safe dish, cover loosely with a moist paper towel, and heat in 1-minute increments until heated through.

    oven-baked spaghetti in a staub casserole dish

    other classic spaghetti recipes that are a crowd pleaser

    Instant Pot Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

    other classic dinners and favorite casseroles you'll love

    • Mexican Chicken Rice Casserole
    • Chicken Noodle Casserole
    • Cheesy Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole
    easy baked spaghetti recipe fully cooked and served on a plate with a fork

    Easy Baked Spaghetti

    This easy-baked spaghetti recipe is quick and easy to make. Spaghetti pasta is combined with the sauce, ground beef, and three kinds of gooey cheese for a savory, family-friendly delicious dinner. 
    5 from 33 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Total Time 45 mins
    Course Dinner, Main Course, Main Dish, Main Dishes
    Cuisine American, Italian
    Servings 15 servings
    Calories 233 kcal
    Protein 16 g

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 teaspoon avocado oil
    • 1 medium onion diced
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 1 pound lean ground beef
    • 3 cloves garlic minced
    • 24 ounces marinara sauce
    • 1 pound spaghetti pasta uncooked
    • 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
    • 8 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese
    • 1 cup cottage cheese
    • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

    Instructions
     

    • Heat the oven to 350ºF and spray a 9x13 casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray. 
    • In a large skillet, heat avocado oil over medium-high heat and add the onion. Season with kosher salt and black pepper. Mix to combine. 
    • Add the ground beef and season with Italian seasoning. 
    • Cook about 6-8 minutes, stirring frequently breaking up the ground beef into crumbles until cooked through. 
    • Add the garlic to the skillet and mix. Saute for about 1 minute, just until fragrant. Be sure not to burn the garlic.  
    • Set 1 cup of marinara aside and add the remaining sauce to the cooked ground beef mixture. Turn the heat to low and let it heat through.
    • While the beef cooks, cook spaghetti according to the package directions to al dente. 
    • Drain spaghetti and mix in the reserved 1 cup of marinara sauce with the cooked spaghetti. 
    • In a separate mixing bowl, combine the cottage cheese and cream cheese. Mix until it's smooth. 
    • Add half of the spaghetti mixture to the prepared baking dish. Spread until it's in an even layer.
    • Top the noodles with all of the cottage cheese and cream cheese mixture. Spread it until it's in an even layer over the pasta. 
    • Top the cream cheese and cottage cheese mixture with the remaining cooked noodles. Spread until even. 
    • Pour the pasta sauce and meat mixture over the top of the noodles. Smooth it out into an even layer. 
    • Top with lots of mozzarella cheese. 
    • Bake in the oven for 30 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbling. 
    • Remove from the oven and allow it to cool for about 10 minutes before cutting and serving. 

    Video

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Easy Baked Spaghetti
    Serving Size
     
    1 square
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    233
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    6
    g
    9
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    3
    g
    19
    %
    Trans Fat
     
    1
    g
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    2
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    32
    mg
    11
    %
    Sodium
     
    554
    mg
    24
    %
    Potassium
     
    386
    mg
    11
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    28
    g
    9
    %
    Fiber
     
    2
    g
    8
    %
    Sugar
     
    4
    g
    4
    %
    Protein
     
    16
    g
    32
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    334
    IU
    7
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    4
    mg
    5
    %
    Calcium
     
    120
    mg
    12
    %
    Iron
     
    2
    mg
    11
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Keyword beef, casserole, cheese, ground beef, marinara, pasta, spaghetti
    Have you tried this recipe? Please let us know how it was in the comments or tag us on Instagram @sweetlysplendid!

    Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy. It should only be used for estimation purposes and is not a guarantee of any kind. Nutritional information varies widely between brands and types of ingredients used. It is recommended that you calculate the nutritional information based on your own ingredients and brands used. Sweetly Splendid, LLC makes no guarantees as to the exact nutrition information.

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    Meet Kara

    Kara is a wife & mother living deep in the heart of Texas. She loves all things food and spending time with her family and dogs. She has a passion for cooking and loves making yummy, family-friendly recipes. Learn more about Kara...

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