Baked Spaghetti

Name: Baked Spaghetti
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 1 h 30 min
Total time: 1 h 45 min
Yield: 10 - 12
Ingredients: 2 tbsp olive oil; 3 garlic cloves; 1 onion; 1 carrot; 1 stick celery; 750g / 1.5lb ground beef (mince); 3/4 cup (185ml) dry red wine; 3 beef bouillon cubes; 1.2kg / 2.4 lb crushed tomato; 1/4 cup tomato paste; 1 - 3 tsp white sugar; 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce; 3 dried bay leaves; 2 sprigs fresh thyme; salt and pepper; 500g/ 1lb Spaghetti; 8 - 10 lices Swiss cheese; 2 cups (200g) mozzarella cheese, shredded

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5.0

210 reviews

Excellent

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
1 hr 15 mins
Total Time
1 hr 45 mins
Servings
10 - 12
Calories
486 kcal
Course
Main Course
Cuisine
American

Baked Spaghetti

Kai Walton

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Recipe video above. It's your favourite Bolognese - in the form of a juicy pasta bake! Do a quick simmer - or go all out and slow cook for a couple of hours for a richer sauce and melt-in-your-mouth beef. **FREEZER BEAUTY!** Can even bake from frozen (see notes).

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Ingredients

Servings

Bolognese Sauce:

2 tbsp olive oil
3 garlic cloves , minced
1 onion , finely chopped
1 carrot , finely diced (optional)
1 stick celery , finely diced (optional)
750g / 1.5lb ground beef (mince)
3/4 cup (185ml) dry red wine (or sub with water or beef broth/stock)
3 beef bouillon cubes , crumbled (Note 1)
1.2kg / 2.4 lb crushed tomato , canned
1/4 cup tomato paste
1 - 3 tsp white sugar , if needed (Note 2)
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
3 dried bay leaves
2 sprigs fresh thyme (or 1/2 tsp dried thyme or oregano)
salt and pepper

Spaghetti Bake:

500g/ 1lb Spaghetti
8 - 10 lices Swiss cheese (or other type), enough for a layer
2 cups (200g) mozzarella cheese, shredded

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Instructions

Sauce:

Heat oil in a large, heavy based pot over medium high heat.
Add garlic and onion, cook 2 minutes.
Add celery and carrot, cook 3 minutes.
Turn heat up to high, add beef and cook, breaking it up as you go.
Once beef is brown, add wine. Simmer rapidly for 2 minutes.
Add remaining Sauce ingredients, stir.
Bring to simmer, lower heat, cover with lid. Simmer for 45 minutes (minimum) or 1.5 - 2 hours (best!).
If liquid evaporates too much, add water - should be saucy (see video/pics). Adjust salt and pepper to taste.

Assemble & Bake:

Preheat oven to 180C/350F.
Cook pasta per packet directions, minus 1 minute.
Drain, then return into pot.
Add just over half the Sauce, toss.
Spread half the pasta in a casserole pan, spread with half remaining Sauce.
Top with cheese slices, then remaining pasta, remaining Sauce, finish with mozzarella.
Cover loosely with foil (so cheese doesn't stick), bake 25 minutes.
Remove foil (reserve), bake further 10 minutes than remove.
Cover loosely with foil, stand 10 - 15 minutes. Then cut slices with a knife and use a spatula to serve pieces like lasagna!

Notes

Beef bouillon cubes - or 3 tsp beef stock powder. If you can't find it, add 2 cups of beef stock and simmer with LID OFF. You will need to add more salt.
Sugar - use a touch only if needed, can adjust towards end. Depends on the sweetness of the canned tomatoes - good quality Italian brands are sweeter, value house brands can be rather sour.
Freezing - best to assemble, cover, cool then freeze. Defrost in fridge 24 hours, then bake per recipe. If baking from frozen, keep covered with foil and bake 50 minutes or until knife inserted in centre comes out hot, then 10 minutes uncovered.
Can also freeze after baking. Best to thaw then reheat in microwave (only 2 minutes or so per piece).
Storage - Keeps extremely well for 4 days in the fridge, reheats perfectly in microwave!
Nutrition per serving, assuming 10 servings (generous piece!)

Nutrition Information

Show Details

Calories 486cal (24%) Carbohydrates 51g (17%) Protein 32g (64%) Fat 15g (23%) Saturated Fat 6g (30%) Cholesterol 72mg (24%) Sodium 690mg (29%) Potassium 865mg (25%) Fiber 4g (16%) Sugar 9g (18%) Vitamin A 1605IU (32%) Vitamin C 14.1mg (16%) Calcium 262mg (26%) Iron 4.4mg (24%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 10- 12

Amount Per Serving

Calories 486 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories	486cal	24%
Carbohydrates	51g	17%
Protein	32g	64%
Fat	15g	23%
Saturated Fat	6g	30%
Cholesterol	72mg	24%
Sodium	690mg	29%
Potassium	865mg	18%
Fiber	4g	16%
Sugar	9g	18%
Vitamin A	1605IU	32%
Vitamin C	14.1mg	16%
Calcium	262mg	26%
Iron	4.4mg	24%