Baked Spaghetti
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
20 mins
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Cook Time
30 mins
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Servings
12
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Course
Main Course, Dinner, Others
Baked Spaghetti
Description
This recipe prepares Baked Spaghetti by first cooking ground beef with minced garlic until browned, then stirring in your preferred amount of spaghetti sauce for a savory meat sauce base. Spaghetti noodles are cooked separately to package directions, then combined in the pot with softened cream cheese, Italian seasoning, and dried basil to coat the noodles evenly in a creamy, herbed mixture. The pasta is layered in a sprayed baking dish with meat sauce, then topped with shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses before baking at 350°F.
The baking melds the flavors together and creates a warm, comforting dish with tender noodles surrounded by a creamy tomato-beef sauce and cheesy top. Letting it stand before serving helps it set, making it easier to cut into squares. The sauce amount can be adjusted if you prefer it saucier, and the recipe can be halved for fewer servings by using a smaller baking dish.
Ingredients
- 12 ounces spaghetti noodles dried
- 1 pound ground beef lean
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 to 2 jars (24 ounces, each) spaghetti sauce * see note
- 1 block (8 ounces) cream cheese softened to room temperature
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon basil dried
- 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese shredded
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large skillet, cook & crumble ground beef and garlic over medium-high heat until no longer pink. Drain any grease. Stir in spaghetti sauce. Remove from heat.
- Meanwhile, cook spaghetti noodles in a large pot of water according to package directions. Drain water and then place hot noodles back into the empty pot. Add cream cheese, Italian seasoning and dried basil to noodles. Stir and combine until cream cheese has melted and noodles are all coated.
- Spread a small amount of meat sauce evenly in the bottom of the baking dish. Pour in noodles and spread out evenly. Pour the meat sauce mixture evenly over the tops of noodles and then sprinkle evenly with both cheeses.
- Bake, uncovered, for 25 to 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting into squares and serving. Enjoy!
Notes
- Use about 1.5 jars of spaghetti sauce if you prefer the casserole extra saucy.
- To serve fewer people, halve the recipe and bake in an 8x8-inch dish.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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