Baked Spaghetti

This comforting recipe for Baked Spaghetti combines spaghetti pasta, red sauce, and creamy ricotta and is then topped with mozzarella and parmesan for a crispy crust on the top. It’s the perfect meal for Sunday dinner or for any time of the week!

I love making spaghetti recipes often, some of my favorites include, spaghetti and meatballs and million dollar spaghetti.

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Growing up, my mom used to make spaghetti with ricotta and mozzarella cheese when I was a kid, so this recipe is a childhood favorite stape. She made hers on the stove top and the mozzarella cheese would melt with the heat of the spaghetti and sauce. 

My version has changed it up a bit similar to lasagna. I prefer making a meat sauce and popping it in the oven to melt the cheese. The heat from the oven intensifies the flavors and I just love the hot cheesy crust on top!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• It’s made from simple ingredients you can find in any grocery store. 
• The leftovers are delicious and make great lunches for meal prep during the week. 
• Kids love baked spaghetti making it a wonderful family meal option. 
• You change up the ground meat by using ground turkey, bison, Italian sausage or even ground chicken. 
• It’s the perfect meal to make for a potluck or a new mom!

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Ground Beef – Ground beef adds protein to this dish while also adding a great flavor while it cooks into the sauce. 
• Spaghetti – Spaghetti is the pasta of choice for this dish, but feel free to use a longer strand pasta linguine or angel hair. 
• Onion & Garlic – No pasta dish should be cooked without the aromatic flavors of garlic and onion. 
• Red Sauce – You can use canned crushed tomatoes or your favorite store-bought sauce, which is what I did. I used one jar of vodka sauce and one jar of arrabiata sauce.  
• Ricotta Cheese – Gets mixed in with the spaghetti to create a creamy texture and decadent flavor. 
• Parmesan & Mozzarella – You’ll top your baked spaghetti with these 2 Italian kinds of cheese to give it a beautiful crust on top similar to lasagna.
• Salt & Pepper– Season this dish generously with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.

How To Make Baked Spaghetti

1. Heat a large pot over medium-low heat, add onions and cook until translucent
2. Add red chili flakes and fresh minced garlic, cook until garlic turns a golden color.
3. Add the beef and cook until fully browned, season with Italian seasoning, granulated garlic, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
4. Add the red sauce, fresh basil, stir and let it simmer covered over medium-low heat for 20 minutes.
5. While the sauce is simmering, cook one pound of spaghetti according to the instructions. Drain and set aside. 
6. In a mixing bowl, combine the ricotta, parmesan, basil, parsley, and salt and pepper until evenly combined. 
7. Place the cooked spaghetti in a casserole dish and combine it with the ricotta mixture and meat sauce.
8. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Add the mozzarella cheese and extra parmesan cheese on top and place it in the broiler for 5-10 minutes or until the mozzarella cheese is completely melted. Remove from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

 

Recipe Tips

• It’s best to use a long strand pasta in this dish as it makes sure all ingredients are incorporated evenly. However, you may certainly use, rigatoni, fettuccine, or any pasta you prefer. 
• If you’re making this for kids, feel free to omit the red pepper flakes to keep it from having a spicy flavor. 
• The cheese on top will melt quickly under the broiler, so make sure you’re watching it carefully. 
• If you’d like to add some vegetables to this dish, saute chopped bell peppers, zucchini or mushrooms in with the onion to simmer in the sauce. 

Storing & Freezing

• Storing: You can store the spaghetti pie in the fridge for up to 3-5 days if sealed in an airtight container.
• Freezing: Add to a freezer-safe bag with the air removed and lay flat. Freeze for up to 3 months. To serve, let it thaw overnight in the fridge. 

FAQS

Should you cover the spaghetti before baking?

No, we’re just using the oven to melt the cheese and make it crispy which requires the dish to stay uncovered. 

What can I use instead of ricotta? 

Ricotta is a great Italian cheese to use inside this dish, but you can also use cottage cheese if you prefer. 

How long do you boil the pasta before baking? 

Cook the pasta 1 minute shy of al dente in salted boiling water. So if the packing instructions recommend cooking the pasta for 8 minutes for al dente cook the pasta for 7 minutes. 

What can I serve this with?

This goes great with cheesy garlic bread and a simple salad. 

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