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Spaghetti Casserole
5 from 3 votes

Spaghetti Casserole

Meaty red sauce, spaghetti noodles, Cheesy Yum, and a topping of even more cheese make this baked Spaghetti Casserole an instant hit. This one’s going to be a staple in your family recipe box, for sure!

Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
1 hr 10 mins
Total Time
1 hr 30 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 883 kcal
Course: Main Course, Dinner
Cuisine: Italian, American

Ingredients

Meat Sauce
  • 1 pound Italian pork sausage bulk
  • ½ pound ground beef
  • 1 cup yellow onion diced
  • 6 large garlic cloves, minced
  • 24 ounces marinara sauce
  • ⅓ cup basil chopped, fresh leaves
  • salt to taste
  • black pepper to taste
Cheesy Yum
  • 15 ounces ricotta cheese whole-milk
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 cups mozzarella cheese use whole milk mozzarella if you can find it, shredded
  • ½ cup Parmesan Cheese grated
  • 1 tablespoon Italian herb mix dried
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt Morton brand
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes dried
Spaghetti
  • 1 pound spaghetti noodles
  • 4 ounces cream cheese full-fat, cut into 1 inch chunks
  • 2 tablespoons butter unsalted
  • ½ cup water reserved pasta water
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt Morton brand
  • 2 cups mozzarella cheese use whole milk mozzarella if you can find it, shredded

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Meat Sauce: Heat a large skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Add pork and beef, and break into small bite-sized pieces as it browns. When meats are about half-way cooked, stir in onion and garlic. When meats are fully cooked, drain away excess grease. Add marinara sauce and fresh basil, and stir to combine and heat thoroughly. Season to taste with salt & pepper, then remove skillet from heat.
  3. Cheesy Yum: In a medium bowl, combine ricotta and egg. Then fold in mozzarella, Parmesan, dried Italian herb mix, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Set aside.
  4. Spaghetti: In a large pot of water, cook spaghetti according to package directions, to al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water. Then drain spaghetti and return it to the same pot. Add cream cheese, butter, 1 cup of prepared meat sauce, ¼ cup of the reserved pasta water, and salt; fold to coat + melt the cream cheese and butter. If needed, add a bit more reserved pasta water to maintain a creamy texture.
  5. Assemble: Add half the spaghetti mixture to the bottom of a 9"x13" pan, in an even layer. Spread half the cheesy yum over the spaghetti. Then add the remaining spaghetti mixture, followed by the remaining cheesy yum. Spread the remaining meat sauce over the cheesy yum, then sprinkle remaining 2 cups of mozzarella evenly over the top.
  6. Bake: Cover pan with foil and bake 45 minutes. Remove foil and bake 15-20 minutes more, or until cheese is bubbling and melted to your liking. If desired, place pan under broiler for 1-2 minutes to blister the cheesy top. Remove from oven and let rest 5-10 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • To prepare ahead: Make the casserole 1-2 days before baking, cover unbaked casserole tightly with a lid or foil, then refrigerate. When ready to bake, remove casserole from fridge 30 minutes prior to baking and preheat oven. Because the casserole is now thoroughly cold, it will need to bake longer than if you were baking it right after assembly. Bake with foil covering the casserole and do not remove the foil until the casserole is thoroughly warmed. Then remove the foil and bake 15-20 minutes more. 

Nutrition Information

Calories 883kcal (44%) Carbohydrates 55g (18%) Protein 44g (88%) Fat 54g (83%) Saturated Fat 26g (130%) Polyunsaturated Fat 4g (24%) Monounsaturated Fat 19g (95%) Trans Fat 0.5g (25%) Cholesterol 185mg (62%) Sodium 1692mg (71%) Potassium 789mg (17%) Fiber 4g (16%) Sugar 7g (14%) Vitamin A 1432IU (29%) Vitamin C 9mg (10%) Calcium 527mg (53%) Iron 4mg (22%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8 servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 883

% Daily Value*

Calories 883kcal 44%
Carbohydrates 55g 18%
Protein 44g 88%
Fat 54g 83%
Saturated Fat 26g 130%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4g 24%
Monounsaturated Fat 19g 95%
Trans Fat 0.5g 25%
Cholesterol 185mg 62%
Sodium 1692mg 71%
Potassium 789mg 17%
Fiber 4g 16%
Sugar 7g 14%
Vitamin A 1432IU 29%
Vitamin C 9mg 10%
Calcium 527mg 53%
Iron 4mg 22%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.