Description
Cheesy baked spaghetti extravaganza delivers a mouthwatering Italian-inspired comfort dish packed with rich flavors and melted cheese. Layers of perfectly cooked pasta, savory marinara, and gooey mozzarella create a delightful meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Protein:
- 1 lb spaghetti
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb italian sausage
Cheese Blend:
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup parmesan cheese
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
Sauce and Seasonings:
- 24 oz marinara sauce
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 eggs
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 medium onion
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F and prepare a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Cook spaghetti in salted boiling water until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil and sauté finely chopped onions and minced garlic until fragrant and translucent.
- Add ground beef and italian sausage to the skillet, breaking meat into small crumbles and cooking until completely browned and no pink remains.
- Pour marinara sauce and heavy cream into the meat mixture, stirring to combine and creating a rich, creamy sauce.
- Whisk eggs in a separate bowl, then gently fold into the meat sauce to help bind the ingredients.
- Season the sauce with salt, black pepper, dried basil, and dried oregano, stirring to distribute flavors evenly.
- Layer half the cooked spaghetti in the prepared baking dish, covering the bottom completely.
- Spread half the meat sauce over the pasta, then sprinkle with mozzarella, parmesan, and dollops of ricotta cheese.
- Repeat layering with remaining spaghetti, meat sauce, and cheese, ensuring an even distribution.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove foil and continue baking for an additional 10-15 minutes until cheese is golden and bubbly.
- Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and sauce to set.
Notes
- Customize meat blend by substituting ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a leaner or vegetarian version.
- Control salt levels by using low-sodium marinara sauce and monitoring added salt during seasoning.
- Enhance cheese variety by mixing different Italian cheeses like provolone or fontina for complex flavor profiles.
- Prep ahead by assembling casserole earlier and refrigerating, then baking when ready to serve for convenient meal planning.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 670
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 950 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 37 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg