This Easy 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!
Enjoy my spaghetti casserole recipes like Rotel Chicken Spaghetti and Easy Taco Spaghetti, which are hearty, delicious meals that are also freezer-friendly.
In This Post
When you’ve got a big casserole dish, loaded with perfectly cooked pasta tossed in cream cheese, then topped with more cheese and a meat sauce that tastes like it’s been cooking for hours, you’ve got something special.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Baked Spaghetti Recipe
- Cheese, cheese, and more cheese, and my family loves it!
- This baked spaghetti recipe is for a cozy family meal with leftovers in about an hour.
- It uses cottage cheese instead of the more traditional ricotta, giving it an insanely creamy texture and more protein.
- If you’re wondering what to do with leftover spaghetti sauce? This recipe is perfect for using the leftovers.
Spaghetti Casserole Ingredients
- Ground Beef: I use lean ground beef for this recipe.
- Medium Onion: Adding a yellow onion to the sauce is a trick to enhance store-bought marinara.
- Marinara Sauce: I like to use Rao’s because it uses very simple ingredients with no additives from other store-bought sauces. You can also use my homemade spaghetti sauce.
- Cottage Cheese: This is one of the ingredients that really sets this spaghetti bake recipe apart. Cottage cheese is much creamier than ricotta and packs in more protein.
- Parmesan Cheese: Use freshly grated parmesan cheese to add a wonderful saltiness and rich flavor.
- Eggs: Helps to bind the parmesan mixture, making a true casserole that can be cut and served.
- Spaghetti: Classic spaghetti is my favorite, but you can also use whole wheat pasta as well.
- Cream Cheese: Our reader Angela said, “The cream cheese makes this recipe pop with creamy cheesiness,” and I agree.
- Mozzarella: No Italian spaghetti bake is complete without that mouthwatering mozzarella cheese pull!
Variations and Additions
- Substitute ground turkey or Italian sausage (like in my Italian Sausage Ravioli Bake) for the beef.
- If you are trying to eat more vegetables, this sauce is a great place to toss in mushrooms, zucchini, and diced bell pepper.
- Fancy up the meat sauce with Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper.
How to Make Easy Baked Spaghetti
Step 1 – Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and cook the ground beef and onion in a large skillet.
Step 2 – Drain the fat, mix in the marinara sauce, and let simmer. While that cooks, make the spaghetti noodles as directed on the package.
How Long Should I Cook Spaghetti?
Pasta should always be cooked in a large pot of salted water to al dente, which means cooked through but still having a bite to it. This is especially important because the spaghetti in the oven will continue to cook in the sauce and cheese mixture.
Step 3 – When the spaghetti is drained, add the cream cheese and mix well to completely coat the noodles. The mixture will be thick, so I recommend tongs to stir the noodles.
Step 4 – Place approximately ½ cup of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9×13 casserole dish. Place half of the spaghetti on top of the meat mixture, smoothing to the edges of the baking dish. Layer on cottage cheese mixture, covering all of the spaghetti.
Step 5 – Layer remaining spaghetti over cheese. Spoon the remaining meat mixture over all layers. Top with Mozzarella cheese. Cover and bake.
Step 6 – Remove the foil, sprinkle on Parmesan cheese, and bake for an additional 15 minutes until cheese is golden brown. Remove from oven and allow to rest for 10 minutes. Cut and serve.
Questions And Answers
Yes, this easy baked spaghetti with jar sauce recipe is great because you can easily add a little more or less sauce, depending on your family’s preferences. You can also heat leftover sauce and serve it on the side if you like.
Yes, you can definitely make this ahead of time! Follow the recipe, but don’t bake it yet. Cover with foil and store in the fridge until you’re ready to bake.
Follow the recipe as written, but instead of baking it, wrap it in plastic wrap and freeze it for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, let it thaw overnight the night before, then bake as directed.
What To Serve With Oven Baked Spaghetti
My favorite way to turn this into a full spaghetti dinner is with Antipasto Skewers, garlic parmesan skillet rolls, easy everyday green salad, and everyone’s favorite cinnamon sugar dessert pizza!
Craving More? Try These Pasta Recipes
If you tried this Easy Baked Spaghetti Recipe or any other recipe, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks!
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 softened cream cheese
- 2 cups Mozzarella cheese – grated
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large skillet, cook ground beef and onion until done. Drain off fat. Pour Mariana sauce over the meat and mix well.
- In a large pot, cook spaghetti to al dente (firm and not over cooked). When done, drain. Add the softened cream cheese and mix well, coating all spaghetti. The mixture will be thick, so I recommend using tongs to stir.
- Mix together, in a medium size bowl, cottage cheese, ½ cup Parmesan cheese and egg.
- To build baked spaghetti, place approximately ½ cup of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9×13 casserole dish. Place half of the spaghetti on top of the meat mixture, smoothing to the edges of the casserole dish. Layer on cottage cheese mixture, covering all of the spaghetti. Layer remaining spaghetti over cheese.
- Spoon the remaining meat mixture over all layers. Top with Mozzarella cheese. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil, sprinkle on ½ cup of Parmesan cheese, and bake for an additional 15 minutes until cheese is golden brown.
- Remove from and allow to rest for 10 minutes. Cut into squares and serve.
Video
Notes
- For more sauce: this easy baked spaghetti with jar sauce recipe is great because you can easily add a little more or less sauce, depending on your family’s preferences. You can also heat leftover sauce and serve it on the side if you like.
- To make ahead: follow the recipe, but do not bake. Cover with foil and store in the fridge until you’re ready to cook and serve.
- To freeze: follow the recipe as written, but instead of baking it, wrap it in plastic wrap and freeze it for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, let it thaw overnight the night before, then bake as directed.
- Store leftover baked spaghetti covered with aluminum foil or in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat it in the oven or individual servings in the microwave.
Nutrition
Crisp & Quick: Best Air-Fryer Recipes!
FREE EMAIL Bonus
My go-to air fryer recipes... you have to try these!
Stewball
I don’t understand cream cheese in America. Where I live it is creamy so cannot be cut into cubes. What is your cream cheese like?
Anet Granger
Cream Cheese has the consistency of firm Tofu if you are familiar with that but cream cheese is sticky. Neufchatel Cheese or pain greek yogurt would be substitutes
Cyn
If I were to use ricotta cheese instead of cottage cheese, would it compromise the flavor or texture?
No, it will be fine.
Joan
can this be frozen after baking?
joan
Can this be prepared a day or 2 ahead and bake when needed
Faye B
Our new Christmas Eve favorite!
sue
nevermind I see it now. also, i spelled your name wrong. I apologize 🙂
Sue Schy
This is the best baked spaghetti I have ever had! Husband and guest loved it!
sue
Donna- did I miss the step on what to do with the 18oz of cream cheese?
Cathy Cunningham
It’s ONE 8 oz cream cheese! NOT 18 oz! Yikes!
Cathy, the directions are for 1, 8 ounce package of cream cheese. I did not write the recipe for 18 ounces.
Thanks,
~Donya
Judy Berry
I am preparing to make this for a crowd of 50 people. I am an experienced cook, however, please clarify the type of Parmesan cheese in this recipe. Is it grated parmesan the powdery like substance? Or is it freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Thank you so much.
Freshly grated.
Betty
This is a delicious dish!
I added green peppers and mushrooms to the sauce for extra flavor. This will become a regular dinner at our house.
Elizabeth
Can I cook this in the microwave once assembled then maybe put in oven uncovered to brown the top?