Description
This Italian-Style Spaghetti Bake is the perfect comforting dish, with layers of spaghetti, marinara sauce, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese baked to golden perfection. It’s a hearty meal that’s great for feeding a crowd or preparing ahead of time for busy days.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz (340g) spaghetti (or any pasta of choice)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb (450g) ground beef (or Italian sausage)
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (24 oz) marinara sauce
- 1 can (14 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 tsp dried basil
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cups (240g) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup (50g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup (120g) ricotta cheese (optional, for added creaminess)
- Fresh parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook the spaghetti according to package instructions, drain, and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the ground beef (or Italian sausage) and cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain any excess fat.
- Add the chopped onion and garlic to the skillet and cook for another 2-3 minutes until softened.
- Stir in the marinara sauce, crushed tomatoes, basil, oregano, red pepper flakes (if using), and salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for 5-10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked spaghetti and the meat sauce. Mix well.
- Transfer half of the spaghetti mixture to a 9×13-inch baking dish and spread it into an even layer.
- Add half of the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses on top of the spaghetti. If using, add dollops of ricotta cheese.
- Layer the remaining spaghetti mixture on top of the cheese, followed by the rest of the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.
- Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. Then, remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the top is lightly golden.
- Let the bake cool for 5 minutes before slicing. Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
- You can prepare this dish ahead of time by assembling it, covering it tightly, and refrigerating for up to 24 hours before baking. Just add an extra 10-15 minutes to the baking time if starting from cold.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the ground beef or sausage and use a plant-based meat substitute or extra veggies like mushrooms and zucchini.
- To make this dish even more creamy, you can stir in some cream cheese or add more ricotta cheese between the layers.
- You can also swap in a different pasta shape such as penne or rigatoni for a fun variation.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 45mg