Description
This Italian-Style Spaghetti Bake is a comforting and hearty dish perfect for a family dinner. It features tender spaghetti tossed in a flavorful meat sauce, topped with a trio of cheeses and baked until bubbly. A satisfying and easy-to-make casserole that will surely become a favorite!
Ingredients
Scale
Spaghetti Bake:
- 12 oz spaghetti
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Chopped fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook the spaghetti: Cook the spaghetti in salted water until just al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Sauté the meat: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the ground beef and onion, cooking until browned and the onion is softened. Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Prepare the sauce: Add marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes if using. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- Combine ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the cooked spaghetti, meat sauce, and ricotta cheese, mixing until well coated. Transfer to a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Add cheese: Top with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
- Bake: Bake for 20–25 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve: Let cool for 5 minutes, garnish with fresh herbs if desired, and serve.
Notes
- You can substitute cottage cheese for ricotta or use ground turkey for a lighter option.
- This dish freezes well—assemble and freeze before baking for up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 casserole
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
