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4.69 from 57 votes

Baked Spaghetti

Recipe from Two Peas and Their Pod

Baked Spaghetti- this hearty baked pasta dish is a family favorite! The spaghetti is layered with a meaty sauce, lots of cheese, and baked until bubbly. Don't forget the garlic bread!
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time50 minutes
Course: Main Course, Pasta
Cuisine: American, Italian
Keyword: spaghetti
Servings: 8
Calories: 436kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 lb spaghetti
  • 1 lb lean ground beef or Italian sausage
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 yellow onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 28 ounces marinara sauce
  • 14.5 ounces diced tomatoes
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
  • Extra parmesan cheese and fresh basil, for garnish

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
  • Cook the spaghetti to al dente, according to package instructions. Drain and set aside. If the noodles are going to be sitting for several minutes, you can drizzle a little olive oil over them and toss so they don’t stick together.
  • Place the beef or sausage in a large skillet and cook over medium heat. Break up with a wooden spoon while cooking. until browned and no longer pink. Drain off excess fat and transfer to a plate that has been lined with paper towels. Set aside.
  • In the same large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
  • Add the marinara sauce, tomatoes, basil, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Turn to low and simmer for 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Stir the cooked beef or sausage into the sauce.
  • In a small bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, egg, and Parmesan cheese.
  • Spray a 9x13-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Place half of the cooked spaghetti noodles on the bottom of the pan. Pour half of the meat sauce over the noodles.
  • Spoon the ricotta cheese mixture over the sauce and use a spatula to spread it in an even layer. Top with 3/4 cup of the shredded mozzarella cheese.
  • Add the remaining spaghetti and then the rest of the sauce. Top with the remaining mozzarella cheese.
  • Bake for 25-30 minutes or until bubbly and the cheese is melted and starting to brown. Remove from the oven and garnish with extra Parmesan cheese and fresh basil, if desired. Cut into squares and serve warm.

Nutrition

Calories: 436kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 91mg | Sodium: 780mg | Potassium: 834mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 827IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 261mg | Iron: 4mg