Description
This delicious Baked Spaghetti is a comforting Italian-American casserole made with spaghetti noodles, savory ground beef marinara sauce, creamy cottage cheese, and melted mozzarella. It’s layered and baked to perfection, resulting in a crispy, cheesy top and rich flavors throughout, perfect for a hearty family dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 pound spaghetti
Meat Sauce
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 4 cups marinara sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Cheese Mixture & Toppings
- 2 large eggs
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 2 cups cottage cheese, divided
- 4 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded and divided
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with vegetable oil spray to prevent sticking.
- Cook Spaghetti: Boil the spaghetti noodles until slightly undercooked, about 2 minutes less than package directions, as they will continue cooking in the oven.
- Make Meat Sauce: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add ground beef and chopped onion. Brown the meat while breaking it apart until fully cooked, about 5-6 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary, then stir in the marinara sauce and mix well to combine.
- Prepare Pasta Mixture: In a large bowl, toss the cooked spaghetti with kosher salt, eggs, and melted butter to coat evenly.
- Layer Ingredients: Spread half of the pasta mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Add half of the cottage cheese, then half of the meat sauce, followed by half of the shredded mozzarella cheese. Repeat the layers with the remaining pasta, cottage cheese, meat sauce, and mozzarella cheese.
- Bake Covered: Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.
- Bake Uncovered: Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 15 minutes or until the cheese on top is melted, crispy, and golden brown.
- Serve: Let the baked spaghetti sit for a few minutes before serving. This helps it set and makes it easier to cut into portions. Enjoy your hearty and cheesy baked spaghetti!
Notes
- For a richer flavor, you can substitute ground beef with a mixture of beef and Italian sausage.
- Use low-fat cottage cheese and part-skim mozzarella for a lighter version.
- Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheat nicely in the oven or microwave.
- Feel free to add chopped fresh basil or parsley for garnish.
- Adjust salt according to your preference, especially if your marinara sauce is already salted.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Keywords: baked spaghetti, spaghetti casserole, cheesy baked pasta, Italian comfort food, ground beef pasta bake
