Description

This baked spaghetti casserole transforms classic spaghetti into a hearty, cheesy, crowd-pleasing comfort dish. With layers of tender pasta, rich meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and bubbly golden mozzarella, it’s a make-ahead family favorite perfect for weeknights, potlucks, or Sunday dinner.

Ingredients

Scale

1 lb spaghetti
1 lb lean ground beef
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 (24-ounce) jar marinara sauce
1 (15-ounce) container whole-milk ricotta cheese
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Salt and black pepper, to taste
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded low-moisture mozzarella cheese

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
Cook spaghetti until very al dente (2–3 minutes less than package directions). Drain.
Brown beef and onion in a skillet. Drain fat. Add garlic; cook 1 minute. Stir in marinara, season with salt and pepper, and simmer briefly.
Mix ricotta, Parmesan, egg, and Italian seasoning in a bowl.
Toss pasta with 1 cup meat sauce. Layer half in dish. Spread ricotta mixture over, then top with remaining pasta.
Pour remaining meat sauce over top. Sprinkle with mozzarella.
Cover with greased foil. Bake 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake 15–20 minutes until bubbly and golden.
Rest 10–15 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

Cook pasta underdone to prevent mushiness. For make-ahead, assemble and refrigerate up to 24 hours; add 10–15 minutes to baking time if chilled.

Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Category: Main Dish, Casserole
Method: Baking
Cuisine: Italian-American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 slice
Calories: 490
Sugar: 8 g
Sodium: 760 mg
Fat: 22 g
Saturated Fat: 11 g
Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 46 g
Fiber: 3 g
Protein: 29 g
Cholesterol: 95 mg

Keywords: baked spaghetti casserole, cheesy pasta bake, family dinner recipe, make-ahead pasta, spaghetti with ricotta