Baked Spaghetti

Baked Spaghetti is the last word consolation meals with a hearty meat sauce and a great deal of gooey melted cheese baked till bubbly and golden! It’s a simple make-ahead favourite that tastes even higher with a giant slice of garlic bread on the aspect.

A pan of baked spaghetti with a piece missing so you can see the noodles under the cheese.

Holly’s Recipe Highlights: Baked Spaghetti

Taste: Each chew is wealthy, savory, and tacky with zesty tomato sauce, tender pasta, and loads of cozy Italian-inspired taste.

Advisable Instruments: A big pot, skillet, and a 9×13-inch baking dish are all that’s wanted to make this household favourite.

Serving Options: I really like serving baked spaghetti with heat garlic bread for absorbing each little bit of sauce and a easy crisp green salad on the aspect to spherical out the meal.

Freezing: Baked spaghetti is ideal for making forward simply assemble it earlier than baking and freeze for a simple meal that’s prepared at any time when wanted.

Whole Time: 55 Minutes Serves: 8

Baked Spaghetti in baking dish with cheese on top

Ingredient Notes

Spaghetti: Use spaghetti noodles for a traditional dish or swap them for any lengthy pasta.
Meat: Lean floor beef is traditional and hearty. For further taste swap it for Italian sausage or use a scrumptious 50/50 mix of each.
Veggies: Inexperienced bell pepper provides a contact of sweetness and a little bit of texture to the sauce. Purple bell pepper, mushrooms, or zucchini can simply be swapped in for a distinct twist.
Pasta Sauce: Pasta sauce or marinara does many of the heavy lifting right here, so use one you actually get pleasure from.
Tomatoes: Diced tomatoes add further texture and preserve the casserole good and saucy. Ensure to not drain them because the juices assist coat the pasta and produce the whole lot collectively.
Cheese: For one of the best gooey soften, shred mozzarella from a block as an alternative of utilizing pre-shredded cheese. Swap the mozzarella for provolone, Monterey Jack, or an Italian cheese mix.
Variations: For a meatless model, skip the meat and add further greens. For a creamier twist, unfold a skinny layer of ricotta or cottage cheese over the pasta earlier than topping with mozzarella.

The best way to Make Baked Spaghetti

Cook dinner the spaghetti (full recipe beneath).
Brown the meat or sausage with the bell pepper, onion, garlic, and salt.
Stir within the pasta sauce, diced tomatoes, and Italian seasoning, then simmer.
Toss the cooked spaghetti and parsley with the sauce.
Unfold it in a greased baking dish, high with mozzarella and Parmesan, and bake.

Cook dinner Spaghetti Al Dente: It’s going to soften extra because it bakes.
Drain the Beef: So the sauce stays wealthy as an alternative of greasy.
Simmer the Sauce Uncovered: Do that for a couple of minutes to thicken it earlier than including the pasta.
Do Not Rinse the Spaghetti: The starch helps the sauce cling to the noodles.
For Clear Slices: Let the casserole relaxation for five to 10 minutes earlier than chopping.
To Prep Forward: Assemble the casserole with out baking, cowl, and refrigerate till able to bake.

Do I bake this coated or uncovered?

Bake it uncovered! If the cheese will get too brown earlier than the middle is sizzling, loosely tent it with foil close to the tip.

How do I add ricotta or cottage cheese?

Unfold a skinny layer of ricotta or cottage cheese immediately over the saucy pasta earlier than including the ultimate mozzarella topping.

Can I prep this the day earlier than?

Sure. Assemble the casserole utterly, cowl it tightly, and preserve it within the fridge for as much as 2 days earlier than baking. (Add just a few further minutes to the bake time because it’s ranging from chilly!)

Storing Baked Spaghetti

Subsequent Day Leftovers: Hold leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days.
Freezing Leftovers: Portion cooled baked spaghetti into hermetic containers. Freeze for as much as 3 months for very best quality.
Freezing Earlier than Baking: Assemble the casserole with out the ultimate bake, cowl tightly, and freeze. Thaw within the fridge in a single day, then bake for 35 to 40 minutes, including the cheese after about 20 minutes.
Reheating: Reheat particular person parts within the microwave till sizzling. For bigger parts, cowl with foil and reheat in a 350°F oven till warmed by way of.

Cozy Pasta Bakes

Did you get pleasure from this Baked Spaghetti Recipe? Depart a remark and ranking beneath.

image of Everyday Comfort cookbook by Holly Nilsson of Spend With Pennies plus text

Prep Time 25 minutes

Cook dinner Time 30 minutes

Whole Time 55 minutes

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
In a big pot of salted water, cook dinner the spaghetti al dente in line with package deal instructions.
In a big skillet over medium-high warmth, brown the bottom beef, inexperienced pepper, onion, garlic, and salt whereas breaking apart the meat. Drain fats if wanted.
Stir within the pasta sauce, tomatoes, and Italian seasoning. Simmer uncovered for five to 10 minutes or till thickened. Stir within the cooked spaghetti and parsley.
Switch the combination to the ready dish, high with cheeses, and bake for 25-Half-hour or till sizzling and the cheese is browned and bubbly. Minimize into squares to serve.

If getting ready forward of time, enhance the baking time
This casserole will be coated with foil and frozen (earlier than baking). Thaw within the fridge in a single day and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, including the cheese after 20 minutes.
Leftovers will be coated with plastic wrap and saved within the fridge for as much as 4 days. Reheat within the oven or within the microwave till heated by way of.

Vitamin data offered is an estimate and can fluctuate primarily based on cooking strategies and types of components used.

Course Casserole, Dinner, Entree, Pasta

Delicacies American, Italian

© SpendWithPennies.com. Content material and images are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is each inspired and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.