Ultimate Baked Spaghetti Casserole (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Pasta
01 -
450 g dried spaghetti
→ Meat and Sauce
02 -
450 g ground beef or mild Italian sausage
03 -
680 ml marinara sauce
04 -
15 ml olive oil
05 -
1 tbsp Italian seasoning
06 -
Salt, to taste
07 -
Black pepper, to taste
→ Cheese Filling
08 -
225 g cream cheese, softened
09 -
200 g shredded mozzarella cheese
# Instructions:
01 -
Preheat oven to 175°C and lightly grease a 22 x 33 cm baking dish.
02 -
Boil spaghetti in salted water until al dente according to package instructions. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
03 -
In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add ground beef or sausage, cooking until well-browned while breaking apart any clumps. Drain excess fat.
04 -
Stir marinara sauce and Italian seasoning into browned meat. Simmer for 5 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
05 -
In a separate bowl, beat softened cream cheese until completely smooth and creamy.
06 -
In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked spaghetti, meat sauce, and smooth cream cheese. Gently toss until spaghetti is evenly coated.
07 -
Spread half of the spaghetti mixture in prepared dish. Sprinkle with 100 g mozzarella cheese. Add remaining spaghetti mixture and top with final layer of mozzarella cheese.
08 -
Cover dish with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes.
09 -
Remove foil and continue baking for 10 minutes, until cheese is golden and bubbly.
# Notes:
01 -
Ensure cream cheese is fully softened to room temperature for the smoothest, most creamy texture in the final dish.
02 -
A high-quality jarred marinara works well, but homemade sauce brings exceptional flavor.
03 -
For variation, use spicy Italian sausage, add a layer of ricotta, or stir sautéed spinach into the meat sauce for extra vegetables.