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    Homepage » Recipes

    Baked Spaghetti Casserole

    Published: Jun 8, 2021 · Modified: Jun 16, 2021 This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · Leave a Comment

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    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Baked Spaghetti Casserole.

    This tasty baked spaghetti casserole is a perfect dish to serve for any weeknight dinner or special occasion. It's also an easy dish to cook for friends' gatherings or pot luck, and it won't break the bank. Anyone, even those picky eaters, will love and devour this baked spaghetti.

    Thinking of what to make for dinner tonight? Try this classic pasta dish. This baked spaghetti casserole is loaded with flavors and gooey cheese. It's made of simple ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. It's so easy and affordable to make and is a great recipe that your kids will surely enjoy.

    baked spaghetti casserole.

    Jump to:
    • Baked Spaghetti Casserole Ingredients
    • How to Make Store-Bought Pasta Sauce Taste Way Better
    • How to Make Baked Spaghetti Casserole
    • 📖 Recipe

    Baked Spaghetti Casserole Ingredients

    This baked spaghetti casserole is made of thin spaghetti pasta, ground beef chuck, tomato sauce, marinara sauce, onions, garlic, green bell peppers, mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and Italian seasoning.

    ingredients to make meat sauce for spaghetti.

    Marinara Sauce: In this recipe, you'll be using a pre-made marinara sauce with no meat added to speed up the cooking process. For that reason, it's important to use a marinara sauce that you enjoy as that can make or break a recipe.

    Ground Beef: You can use any type of ground beef according to your liking. In this recipe, I used ground chuck 80% lean and 20% fat. Fat adds flavor and is going to render out as you cook it. You can always drain the meat to remove the excess grease before adding the other ingredients.

    baked spaghetti casserole.

    How to Make Store-Bought Pasta Sauce Taste Way Better

    Behind every great pasta dish is a great sauce. Instead of dumping the store-bought marinara sauce into the spaghetti. I did some extra steps to make the sauce more flavorful.

    • Flavor the sauce. This step involves browning the ground beef chuck with a small amount of soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, garlic, then cooking the aromatic vegetables until tender.
    • Heat the sauce. Simmer the marinara sauce and tomato sauce for a few minutes to reduce the acidity and caramelize as the aromas are released.
    baked spaghetti casserole.

    How to Make Baked Spaghetti Casserole

    Step 1. Cook the Meat Sauce

    • In a large deep skillet or dutch oven, cook the ground meat and onion for a few minutes. You can drain the excess fat with paper towels if necessary.
    cook the ground meat and onion for a few minutes. You can drain the excess fat with paper towels if necessary.
    • Add Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, diced green bell pepper, Italian seasoning, and garlic. Cook until the meat is well browned and the vegetables are tender.
    Add Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, diced green bell pepper, Italian seasoning, and garlic. Cook until the meat is well browned and the vegetables are tender.
    • Add marinara sauce and tomato sauce into the skillet. Simmer the sauce for about 7 minutes then stir in parmesan cheese.
    Add marinara sauce and tomato sauce into the skillet. Simmer the sauce on low for about 7-10 minutes.

    Step 2. Cook the Pasta

    • While you're waiting, cook the pasta in salted boiling water until it's slightly undercooked.
    cook the pasta in salted boiling water until it's slightly undercooked.

    Step 3. Cook the Pasta and Sauce Together

    • Add the cooked and drained spaghetti into the sauce. Stir for about 1-2 minutes.
    Add the cooked and drained spaghetti into the sauce. Stir for about 1-2 minutes.

    Step 4. Bake the Spaghetti with Sauce and Cheese

    • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place half of the spaghetti mixture in a greased 13x9-inch baking dish. Top with half of the shredded mozzarella cheese. Repeat the same process once.
    Place half of the spaghetti mixture in a greased 13x9-inch baking dish. Top with half of the shredded mozzarella cheese. Repeat the same process for the other half.
    • Transfer the baking dish to the oven. Bake, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
    baked spaghetti casserole.

    FAQ and Cooking Tips:

    How to avoid dry baked pasta

    The pasta absorbs liquid from the sauce as it bakes. For that reason, you need to use a generous amount of sauce to keep the pasta moist as it cooks, without making the casserole too soupy or soggy.

    How to avoid mushy baked pasta

    To avoid mushy baked pasta you need to cook the sauce first then undercook the pasta (firmer than al-dented), and drain it really well.

    How to store leftover baked pasta

    You can store the leftover baked pasta in shallow airtight containers. Properly stored, it can last 3-5 days in the fridge or up to 3 months in the freezer.

    How to reheat your baked pasta

    Place the pasta in an oven-safe shallow bowl and cover tightly with aluminum foil. Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

    Check Out More Tasty Pasta Recipes

    • Pasta with Mussels
    • Easy Canned Clam Pasta
    • Easy Squid Pasta with Marinara Sauce
    • Cajun Chicken Alfredo Pasta
    • Instant Pot Penne Pasta
    • Bratwurst Pasta
    • One-Pot Penne Pasta
    • Canned Tuna Pasta
    • White Sauce Pasta

    Did you make this recipe? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below! I'd appreciate it. 

    📖 Recipe

    baked spaghetti casserole.
    5 from 1 vote

    Baked Spaghetti Casserole

    Rika
    This baked spaghetti casserole is loaded with flavors and gooey cheese. It's made of simple ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. It's so easy and affordable to make and is a great recipe that your kids will surely enjoy.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 8
    Calories 501 kcal

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 pound spaghetti
    • 1 pound ground chuck
    • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
    • 1 cup diced onion
    • 1 green bell pepper, (diced)
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil , (optional)
    • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
    • 2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
    • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning , (or use dried basil)
    • 32 oz marinara sauce
    • 15 oz tomato sauce
    • ¼ cup shredded parmesan cheese
    • 1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese, (add more according to your liking)

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 350°F.
    • In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Cook the ground beef and onion for 2 minutes (drain any fat if needed). Add Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, diced green bell pepper, Italian seasoning, and garlic for 5 minutes or until the meat is well browned and the vegetables are tender.
    • Add marinara sauce and tomato sauce into the skillet. Lower the heat, simmer the sauce and stirring frequently for about 7 minutes. Stir in the parmesan cheese.
    • While you're waiting, cook the pasta in salted boiling water until it's undercooked (firmer than al-dented) and drain it well. Add the spaghetti into the sauce. Stir for 1-2 minutes.
    • In a greased 13x9 inch baking dish, place half of the spaghetti mixture. Top with ½ cup of the shredded mozzarella cheese. Place the other half of the spaghetti mixture and top with the remaining cheese. Bake, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

    Notes

    You can store the leftover baked pasta in shallow airtight containers. Properly stored, it can last 3-5 days in the fridge or up to 3 months in the freezer.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 501kcalCarbohydrates: 55gProtein: 26gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 59mgSodium: 1238mgPotassium: 929mgFiber: 5gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 949IUVitamin C: 26mgCalcium: 201mgIron: 4mg
    Keyword baked spaghetti casserole
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Hi, I'm Rika! Through Posh Journal I share my passion for food, travel and other things I enjoy along the way.  Don’t let the name fool you, most of my recipes are easy to cook and can be enjoyed on a daily basis. 

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