Baked Spaghetti Casserole

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Over the years I’ve tried many different recipes and variations of baked spaghetti. Spaghetti is a favorite meal in our house, especially with the kids, and I love the idea of having a spaghetti casserole that I can freeze and stick in the oven for a quick meal. The only problem is that I’ve yet to make a baked spaghetti that would be considered a real winner with everyone.

Well, until now that is. I think I’ve finally figured out a good combination that combats the usual problems we have with baked spaghetti. The number one problem we run into is that we all find the traditional baked spaghetti too dry. The kids don’t like when the noodles get a little crispy and my husband and I never think the finished product is saucy enough.

So I decided to counter that problem with a little creaminess in the noodles. It worked perfectly. The dish was definitely not too dry and there were no crispy noodles for the kids to complain about. But more importantly, it did not turn out soupy either, which I was a little concerned with. The taste might be a little off from a traditional spaghetti with meat sauce dinner, but the spirit is definitely still there. And since I just know this will freeze perfectly, it’s going to be a great option for stocking the freezer in our house.

Baked Spaghetti Casserole

Prep Time25 minutes
Cook Time35 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course: Main Course
Keyword: Casserole

Ingredients

  • 1/2 – 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 1/2 green pepper, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 14.5 oz can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 can tomato sauce
  • 1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
  • 2 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 tsp sugar
  • 1/2 – 1  lb spaghetti
  • 1 cup cottage or ricotta cheese
  • 3 oz cream cheese
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 1/2 cup  shredded Mozzarella or Italian blend cheese

Instructions

  • In a large skillet, brown ground beef with onion, pepper and garlic. Drain. Stir in tomatoes, tomato sauce and seasonings. Simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes before removing from heat to cool.
  • Meanwhile, cook spaghetti al dente, according to package directions. Drain and rinse in cool water.
  • In a large bowl, stir together the cottage or ricotta cheese, cream cheese, egg and Parmesan cheese until combined. Add spaghetti and stir until well mixed. Pour into a greased 13×9 casserole dish. Spoon the meat sauce on top of the spaghetti and cover with shredded cheese.
  • Bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes, until cheese is melted and golden. (If made during stolen moments, let the casserole dish come to room temperature while the oven heats.)

Notes