Baked Spaghetti

Baked Spaghetti is a favorite casserole around here! Spaghetti is mixed with a quick zesty meat sauce, topped with cheese, and baked in the oven until hot and bubbly.

Why you’ll love this family favorite recipe!

It’s cozy, comforting, and absolutely delicious.

Tried and true – the reviews speak for themselves.

Baked spaghetti is easy to make, and you can add veggies you have on hand.

It’s an inexpensive way to stretch a pound of meat to feed a crowd.

This casserole freezes and reheats well.

Ingredients

Meat: Use ground beef, Italian sausage, or a combination of the two. For a leaner option, ground turkey or turkey sausage can be used.
Sauce: Use your favorite brand of pasta sauce or marinara sauce and add in diced tomatoes and Italian Seasoning for extra flavor.
Pasta: Since this is a baked spaghetti recipe, I use spaghetti noodles, but you can swap them for any long pasta or whole wheat spaghetti.
Cheese: Pre-shredded cheese works just fine in this recipe.

Baked Spaghetti in baking dish with cheese on top

How to Make Baked Spaghetti

Brown beef and onions. Add veggies and tomato sauce and simmer.
Toss the sauce with cooked spaghetti and transfer it to a baking dish.
Top with cheese and bake (full recipe below).

Baked spaghetti is perfect for lasagna lovers looking for a quicker option.

Ensure the spaghetti is cooked al dente, as the noodles cook a bit more in the oven.
Add extra veggies to the sauce. Try sliced mushrooms, shredded zucchini, or carrots.
You can adjust this to your liking and add more or less sauce if you’d prefer.

Feeling Fancy? Garnish this recipe with fresh herbs like parsley before serving.

How to Prep Ahead

Prepare as directed and refrigerate for up to 48 hours. Remove it from the fridge at least 30 minutes before baking and bake for about 35 to 40 minutes or until hot in the center.
Bake the casserole uncovered so the cheese can form a nice crust. Covering it will also make it steam, which can overcook the spaghetti.

Just like stuffed shells, this easy recipe is perfectly served with garlic bread and a Caesar salad.

Baking dish full of Baked Spaghetti with serving taken out of it

More Pasta Casseroles We Love

Did you make this Baked Spaghetti? Be sure to leave a rating and comment below!

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This baked spaghetti casserole is a family favorite and super easy to make!

Prep Time 25 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 55 minutes

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
In a large pot of salted water, cook the spaghetti al dente according to package directions.
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the meat, onion, garlic, seasoning, and green pepper while breaking up the meat. Drain fat if needed.
Stir in the pasta sauce, Italian seasoning, and tomatoes. Simmer uncovered for 5 to 10 minutes or until thickened. Stir in the cooked spaghetti and parsley.
Transfer the mixture to the prepared dish, top with cheeses, and bake for 25-30 minutes or until hot and the cheese is browned and bubbly. Cut into squares to serve.

If preparing ahead of time, increase the baking time
This casserole can be covered with foil and frozen (before baking). Thaw in the fridge overnight and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, adding the cheese after 20 minutes.
Leftovers can be covered with plastic wrap and stored in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the oven or in the microwave until heated through.

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Casserole, Dinner, Entree, Pasta

Cuisine American, Italian

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