Out Of This World Baked Spaghetti is a one-pan meal that’s always a hit at the supper table or at a covered dish supper. With a creamy, cheesy center, and a meaty sauce, this pasta casserole is comfort food taken to a whole new level!
When you’ve got a big casserole dish, loaded with perfectly cooked pasta that’s been tossed in cream cheese, then topped with more cheese and a meat sauce that tastes like it’s been cooking for hours, well, you’ve got something special. I’ve been making my version of baked spaghetti for years for my family, taken it to numerous covered dish suppers, and shared it with friends when they need a little TLC.
When I was developing this recipe, I took all the traditional ingredients of a spaghetti dinner and of baked lasagna and added them together. The results are absolutely “out of this world” so, now you know how I came up with the name! To pull this recipe together I start by making the sauce. I use a little short cut here because it’s such a time saver. I use a jarred Mariana sauce and mix it with cooked ground beef and onions. Then, I let it simmer a bit to bring all the flavors together for a true home-cooked taste.
While my sauce is bubbling away, I cook the pasta and make the cheese layer. I blend cottage cheese, Parmesan, and one egg together to make a creamy mixture that will melt into the pasta when it’s cooked. That layer right there is what makes this baked spaghetti so special. It’s funny, whenever I serve it, my normal lively, noisy table conversation gets quiet and the only sounds are oohhs and aahhs. I’m not kidding. This is a dish that so comforting and so satisfying.
I make this casserole in a 9×13 dish. The recipe makes enough for 12 people if you’re serving a salad and bread along with your meal. If not, and you’re feeding a bunch of hungry folks, then you can easily get 8 servings. An added bonus to this out of this world dish is that it freezes well. Just assemble it per the instructions, then instead of baking it in the oven, just wrap it up and freeze it. When you want to serve it, take it out of the freezer and let it thaw 24 hours prior to baking. I’ve often divided the recipe into two portions, cooking one and freezing one. This is a great way to stretch your budget and stock your fridge!
I could go on and on about how good this baked spaghetti is, but the real proof is in the taste. All I can say with that is, get ready to savor the best, over the top, out of this world, baked spaghetti ever. Enjoy!
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small to medium onion - chopped
- 1 24 oz jar Marinara sauce - I use Rao's
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese - grated
- 1 egg
- 1 pound spaghetti
- 1 8 oz cream cheese
- 2 cups Mozzarella cheese - grated
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a medium size skillet, cook ground beef and onion until done. Drain off fat. Pour Mariana sauce over meat and mix well.
- In a large pot, cook spaghetti according to package directions. When done, drain. Add cream cheese and mix well, coating all spaghetti.
- Mix together, in a medium size bowl, cottage cheese, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese and egg.
- To build baked spaghetti, place approximately 1/2 cup of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 casserole dish. Place half of spaghetti on top of meat mixture smoothing to the edges of casserole dish. Layer on cottage cheese mixture, covering all of spaghetti. Layer remaining spaghetti over cheese. Spoon remaining meat mixture over all layers. Top with Mozzarella cheese. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil, sprinkle on 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese and bake for additional 15 minutes until cheese is golden brown. Remove from and allow to reset 10 minutes. Cut into squares and serve.
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Abby
Well this just sounds so creamy and yummy… I’m going to make this tomorrow !! Thank You for sharing it.
Gwyn
Do you have a particular brand of marinara sauce you use? It can make all the difference in taste.
Donya
I use Raos sauce. I love them!
XO,
~Donya
Debi H
It was inhaled….it was that good!!!
Mrs. P.
Oh my gosh!! So good! I did substitute ricotta cheese for the cottage cheese because we don’t like cottage cheese, other than that made exactly as written. We loved it! Will make this regularly.
Donya
Thanks so much for letting me know! I love your substitution. I am just ticked you loved the recipe.
XO,
~Donya
Toni
This would be an amazing dinner any night of the week!
Lisa
How can I halve this recipe? It’s only me I’m cooking for and don’t like freezing food.
Donya
Hey Lisa, you sure can! Just measure out everything for half the recipes and it should turn out beautifully. Enjoy!~
XO,
~Donya
Lisa
Thank you! Should I still use a 13×9 pan or a smaller one? I want it to come out thick like the picture.
Donya
Hey Lisa. I’d use a square 8×8 inch dish. If you don’t have one at home, you could buy a metal one from the grocery. You’ll get a deep layered turn out that way.
Hope this helps,
~Donya
Lisa
Thanks so much for replying, Donya! It looks and sounds delicious. Can’t wait to try it!
Toni L.
I made this for dinner tonight, and OMG it is truly OUT of this world with delicious flavor. Thanks so much for posting.
Donya
You are welcome, Toni! I’m so glad you liked it.
Have a great day,
~Donya
Kathy
It was a hit with the family. Made it for Christmas Eve dinner. I’m always looking for recipes that don’t keep me in the kitchen while everyone is visiting in the living room. Put it together the day before and refrigerated it. served with salad and hot rolls. Lots of compliments, even the littlest one loved it.
Cindy
This was so good and very flaverful. We used ricotta instead of cottage cheese. We will be making this a lot thanks for sharing!
Dara
I made this wonderful recipe last night. I loved it going to take it now to share with friends. This is the perfect bring u close meal for the times we are now in. Of course I double the recipe which was simple ? Thank you for I look forward to making many more of your recipes.
Debbie Hayslip
I made this with ground italian sausage. Everybody LOVED it!!! Thanks for a new family favorite!!
Jackie
My family loved this. My husband and kids wolfed it down. I’m a vegetarian, so I didn’t have any. But, In the near future, I hope to make a vegetarian version. I added some Italian seasoning and a package of sliced fresh portabella mushrooms. I made a mistake and accidentally mixed my spaghetti with the cream cheese and the cottage cheese layer, it still turned out just fine!
Annie Snellenbarger
SERIOUSLY GOOD PEOPLE!!!!!!!!! OMG!!!! If this was a man…just kidding.,but seriously. Very tasty and easy to make. Of course, I had to add my own touches. So I used 1\2 pound of mild Italian sausage along with a pound of meat. I added saute’d onion and green bell pepper “chopped” and my own Italian seasonings. AND…instead of adding cream cheese, I just added more parmesan to the pasta to coat the pasta. Then, I mixed one egg and coated the noodles with that. And then…I baked it for 45 minutes and I removed the foil that I had placed over the dish before baking it, and cooked it 25 more minutes. And…enjoy 🙂
Donya
Love your changes Annie! Thank you so much for the rating. I’m doing a happy day over here.
Have a wonderful day,
~Donya
Cheryl yarborough
I made this last night, husband went for seconds! Just the 2 of us, going to eat leftovers tonight… it was that good! Thank you.
Donya
Thanks, Cheryl!
I love a good recipe that makes leftovers.
I hope you have a wonderful day.
~Donya