Baked Spasagna
User Reviews
4.2
-
Prep Time
20 mins
-
Cook Time
40 mins
-
Total Time
1 hr
-
Servings
14 servings
-
Course
Main Course
-
Cuisine
Italian
Baked Spasagna
Description
Baked Spasagna features spaghetti noodles cooked al dente and mixed with a blend of cheeses including mozzarella, ricotta, sour cream, and Parmesan, combined with herbs such as oregano and basil alongside garlic and seasoning. This mixture is baked in a dish to develop a slightly golden top with creamy melted cheese throughout. A separate meat sauce is prepared by browning ground beef with onions, then simmering it with a jarred spaghetti sauce for added richness and depth.
The dish offers a comforting texture with the noodles coated in the creamy cheese mixture, balanced by the savory meat sauce that can be spooned over servings. The gentle baking softens the pasta while allowing the flavors of the cheese and herbs to meld.
This casserole fits well as a family-style main course for a casual meal. The meat sauce can be spooned on top or served on the side according to preference. The baked pasta is best allowed to cool slightly after baking to set for easier serving.
The recipe uses commonly available ingredients and a simple layering approach without needing to prepare traditional lasagna noodles. The meat sauce can be made in advance and reheated when ready to serve.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 /2 lbs (24 ounces) spaghetti noodles uncooked
- 6 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
- 8 ounces ricotta cheese
- 8 ounces sour cream
- 1 1/4 /4 cups half-and-half
- 1/2 /2 cup Parmesan Cheese divided, grated
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
- 1 teaspoon basil dried
- 1/2 /2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Meat Sauce:
- 12 ounces ground beef
- 1/2 /2 cup onion white, chopped
- 1 (24 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 glass baking dish with cooking spray.
- Cook spaghetti al dente according to package directions. Drain and place in large mixing bowl.
- In another mixing bowl, stir together sour cream, ricotta, half-and-half, mozzarella, oregano, basil, pepper, garlic, salt, and 1/4 cup of the Parmesan cheese.
- Add above cheese mixture to the spaghetti. Mix gently until spaghetti is evenly coated with mixture.
- Gently place spaghetti mixture into prepared dish. Top with remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Cover dish with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees in pre-heated oven for 30 minutes.
- Remove from oven, remove foil and place dish on cooling rack for 10 minutes.
- While pasta is cooking, prepare the meat sauce. For the meat sauce: Add ground beef in a skillet over medium heat and brown meat well. Add salt and pepper. Add the onion and cook until soft. Drain meat and set aside. Add spaghetti sauce and let simmer for about ten minutes.
- Cut pasta into squares and top with meat sauce.
Notes
- Use a 9x13 glass baking dish and spray it with cooking spray before layering to prevent sticking.
- Ensure spaghetti is cooked to al dente to maintain texture after baking.
- After baking, let the dish rest for 10 minutes to set before serving.
- Meat sauce can be prepared while the spaghetti bakes to save time.
- Cover the dish with foil during baking to retain moisture and prevent over-browning.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.2
You'll Also Love
