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Baked Spaghetti Casserole

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.

spaghetti with sauce in skillet

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.

baked spaghetti casserole

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:

  1. 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.
  2. Can I use a different type of noodles for this recipe?
    Yes, you can try using a short noodle such as rotini or rigatoni.
  3. What type of marinara sauce should be used?
    Use your favorite! We like to use a basic tomato-basil, such as Classico brand.
  4. 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.
  5. Do I have to top it with fresh parsley?
    No. Parsley just makes it look pretty.
  6. 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.
Baked Spaghetti Casserole in white baking dish

Baked Spaghetti Casserole

Yield: 6 servings
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

A delicious dish of spaghetti baked until melted and perfect!

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

Instructions

      1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
      2. Cook the spaghetti according to package instructions, just until al dente (a little firm to the bite). Drain, rinse and set aside.
      3. While the pasta is cooking, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until the onions are softened- about 5 minutes. Add the ground beef and season lightly with salt and pepper. Cook until no longer pink, about 8 minutes. Tilt the pan and spoon out the fat to discard. Add the marinara sauce to the beef along with the cream cheese. Simmer for 10 minutes, until the cream cheese has melted into the sauce. Turn off the heat, and stir in the cream and the cooked spaghetti.
      4. Transfer the spaghetti with meat sauce to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses on top. Bake until the cheese is melted and the casserole is piping hot- 20 to 25 minutes. Sprinkle parsley on top and serve.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 servings Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 663Total Fat: 39gSaturated Fat: 18gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 137mgSodium: 1174mgCarbohydrates: 38gFiber: 4gSugar: 9gProtein: 39g

Nutritional information is estimated.

Danielle

Sunday 26th of March 2023

I just made this and it is a delicious and easy recipe! I wish I had added more salt and pepper, and maybe a little garlic salt while cooking the meat. Other than that, this was a great recipe! I will definitely be making this as a regular meal from now on. Thank you! 🤗

Shelly

Thursday 23rd of March 2023

The recipe looks very good! I'm making it tonight for my family and looking forward to leftovers to share with my elderly mother!

NanCee Maynard

Sunday 5th of September 2021

I buy hamburger/ground beef on sale. Precooking it ahead of time. Add ground beef to large pan, add 1/2 cup water bring to a boil, breaking meat up, till no more pink. Drain, pouring grease into any empty soup/veg can, cool, portion (2 cups etc) out into freezer bags. Thaw as need. Saves time and so versatile to make dishes when running low on time.

Angela M Reed

Monday 5th of April 2021

Can you use thin spaghetti?

Lori Lange

Monday 5th of April 2021

I think that would be okay!

Penny Card

Monday 15th of February 2021

What does putting cream cheese do for the dish?

Lori Lange

Thursday 18th of February 2021

Makes it creamy!

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