Name: Baked Spaghetti Casserole
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h 10 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 16 ounces spaghetti; 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil; 1 small yellow onion, peeled and finely chopped; 2 medium garlic cloves, minced; 16 ounces ground beef; kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper; One 25-ounce jar tomato-basil marinara sauce; 4 ounces cream cheese, cut into pieces; 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream; 8 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese; 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese; 1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley

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Baked Spaghetti Casserole is a comforting, delicious way to serve up classic spaghetti. With the addition of cheeses, ground beef, sauce and cream, this favorite casserole recipe will be a family favorite. Be sure to watch the video in the recipe card at the end of this post to see how to make this recipe.

Baked Spaghetti Casserole in white baking dish

National Spaghetti Day is January 4th. It’s a day to celebrate the long, cylindrical pasta noodles that are so well-loved. Take advantage of this food holiday and serve up this this easy-to-prepare baked spaghetti casserole, or make your own favorite spaghetti recipe.

Spaghetti has its roots in Italian cuisine. It’s made from flour and water, and it’s cooked in a pot of salted, boiling water. Variations of spaghetti have evolved over the years: capellini (thin spaghetti) and spaghettoni (thick spaghetti) are most common. Fun fact: The root word of spaghetti is “spago,” which means “thin string.”

“Spaghetti, spaghetti, all over the place, Up to my elbows–up to my face.”
-Shel Silverstein

Traditional spaghetti is served simply with tomato sauce and cheese. You can also add beef, vegetables, cream, garlic and olive oil. Topping spaghetti with marinara sauce and meatballs is very popular way to serve it. We like to turn ours into baked spaghetti casserole!

ground beef, tomato sauce and cheese in skillet

How to make Baked Spaghetti Casserole:

Cook the spaghetti according to package instructions (al dente for this recipe).

In a skillet, heat oil and cook onion and garlic together. Add in ground beef and cook until browned. Spoon out and discard the fat. Then add in marinara sauce (your favorite jarred version is fine) and cream cheese. Simmer until the cream cheese has melted into the sauce.

Stir in cream and the cooked spaghetti.

spaghetti casserole in white dish ready for oven

Transfer the spaghetti mixture to a baking dish and top with mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Bake until the casserole is piping hot- about 25 minutes.

Sprinkle freshly chopped Italian parsley on top, and your baked spaghetti casserole is ready to serve!

serving of spaghetti casserole on white plate

Since you celebrated the New Year by making Hoppin’ John, it’s now time to celebrate National Spaghetti Day with this delicious baked spaghetti recipe. Enjoy!

Questions about Baked Spaghetti Casserole:

What does “al dente” mean?
“Chewy and firm.” For this recipe, it’s important not to cook the pasta to a soft stage. The noodles will continue to cook in the baked casserole.
Can I use a different type of noodles for this recipe?
Yes, you can try using a short noodle such as rotini or rigatoni.
What type of marinara sauce should be used?
Use your favorite! We like to use a basic tomato-basil, such as Classico brand.
Can I change up the cheeses in this recipe?
Mozzarella and Parmesan are traditional Italian cheeses, but you can experiment with other cheeses such as Provolone and Romano.
Do I have to top it with fresh parsley?
No. Parsley just makes it look pretty.
Can this recipe be made ahead?
This is a great recipe to make ahead. Just prepare everything and put it in the casserole dish. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to bake. This makes it a good dish to bring to a sick friend or to someone who just had a baby.