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This easy baked spaghetti is filling and flavorful. It’s a simple dinner recipe the entire family will love!
Baked spaghetti has all the makings of a classic Spaghetti, but in casserole form – similar to our Chicken Alfredo Bake and Pasta Bake.
EVERYONE LOVES It!
I have loved Spaghetti since I was a little girl! In fact, it’s always been a family favorite dinner recipe and one that everyone in my family enjoyed.
We turned it into a baked version and EVERYONE loves it! Here’s why:
- SIMPLE. Directions are easy to follow and the recipe altogether is simple.
- FLAVOR. The taste is amazing. Take spaghetti and add more cheese, plop it in a baking dish, and you cannot go wrong.
- EASY TO CHANGE UP. Based on the meat used, the sauce made and the cheeses added to this recipe, this dish is easy to make variations of.
- MAKE AHEAD. Because it’s a bake, it can be made 1-2 days in advance.
How to Make Baked Spaghetti
There are just a few simple steps to make this baked spaghetti recipe!
- PREP. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- MEAT. Brown your hamburger in a large pan over medium heat, breaking into small pieces. Drain.
- SAUCE. Add tomato sauce and paste, salt and pepper, water (with the bouillon cubes in it), sugar, basil, oregano and garlic. Simmer on low for 10 minutes.
- TOMATO SAUCE. Add tomato sauce and paste, salt and pepper, water (with the bouillon cubes in it), sugar, basil, oregano and garlic. Simmer on low for 10 minutes.
- PASTA. While sauce is simmering, cook the spaghetti noodles as directed on the package, and set aside.
- CREAM. Add 1 cup sour cream and 1 cup mozzarella cheese to the sauce and stir to combine. Add noodles and mix well.
- POUR + TOP. Pour spaghetti mixture into a greased 11 x 14 baking dish and sprinkle with 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese.
- BAKE. Cover the casserole with foil and bake for 25 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for an additional 5 – 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted.
Recipe Tips
Change up this cheesy baked spaghetti with these simple tips and variations!
- Low-carb option. Spaghetti squash is a healthier alternative to normal spaghetti noodles, but it just takes a little more prep work. It may have a slightly different texture, but it would overall be a healthier option.
- Meat. If your family doesn’t care for ground, replace it with Italian sausage or find a sweeter, more mild sausage. You can also use ground turkey or ground chicken.
Change it Up!
Variations. Change it up with any of these simple tips:
- Top with parmesan cheese.
- Replace the oregano and basil with 2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning.
- To use fresh herbs, add 1 tablespoon of oregano and 1 tablespoon of basil.
- Sneak in some vegetables like shredded carrots, shredded zucchini, or corn.
- For extra flavor, add diced bell pepper, onions, or red pepper flakes.
- The jar of spaghetti sauce can be replaced with a jar of Marinara Sauce. You can also whip up a favorite Spaghetti Sauce Recipe to use.
Storing + Serving Tips
- Make ahead of time. Assemble this spaghetti bake ahead of time before baking, cover it with plastic wrap, and place it in the refrigerator for 1-2 days.
- STORE. Divide the leftovers into individual airtight containers and store them in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave.
- FREEZE. Assemble the easy baked spaghetti in a disposable pan to not risk cracking a glass pan. Wrap it with aluminum foil and freeze it for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before baking. Top it with cheese after the initial baking time, just like it says in the instructions.
This would be a great dish to bake and take to someone in need!
SERVE THIS WITH:
Recipe FAQ
Pasta recipes benefit from boiling the pasta in salted water, but it is not a must. Bring a large pot of water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add 1½ tablespoons of salt for every pound of pasta you are cooking. Stir then add the pasta and cook.
This baked spaghetti recipe makes a wonderful freezer meal (see above for instructions) so go ahead and double or even triple the recipe. I recommend cooking the pasta to the cusp of al dente to help keep the pasta from getting mushy when it thaws and bakes.
This recipe has ample sauce so that the pasta should not dry out during the baking time. However, if you are worried, cover it during the first 15 minutes, add the cheese, and then bake uncovered for the last 15 minutes.
Baked Spaghetti Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef 80% lean/20% fat
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 8 ounce can tomato sauce
- 1 6 ounce can tomato paste
- 2 cups hot water
- 2 beef bouillon cubes, (or 2 cups beef broth)
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1 16 ounce package spaghetti noodles
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese, divided
- grated Parmesan cheese, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Brown your hamburger in a large pan over medium heat, breaking into small pieces. Drain.
- Add tomato sauce and paste, salt and pepper, water (with the bouillon cubes in it), sugar, basil, oregano and garlic. Simmer on low for 10 minutes.
- While sauce is simmering, cook the spaghetti noodles as directed on the package, and set aside.
- Add 1 cup sour cream and 1 cup mozzarella cheese to the sauce and stir to combine. Add noodles and mix well.
- Pour spaghetti mixture into a greased 11 x 14 baking dish and sprinkle with 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Cover the casserole with foil and bake for 25 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for an additional 5 – 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Very frustrated that someone changed the recipe, I have had this link saved for years and the ingredients and recipe were changed around 8 months ago. It is not the spaghetti pie you are linking either. Please go back to the original recipe, it was amazing and this is just not it.
Hi. Please fix the recipe the way it was a few months ago before you updated it. I saved it inside samsung food, directly from your website. The ingredients and steps were different. No sour cream for example. It is so annoying that you would change a good recipe without creating a copy or add a link to original recipe. I messaged you on insta and you did not answer. And I see someone else commented about the same thing and you did not acknowledge you changed the recipe. Not cool.
I’ve had this recipe pinned for years and we love it, but I noticed the recipe found here has been completely changed. Do you still have the old recipe posted somewhere? It used to have Italian sausage, not just beef, and the spaghetti used to be mixed with egg and milk then topped with the meat sauce. I would love to make the old one again but don’t completely remember all the details.
This sounds similar to our Baked Spaghetti Pie recipe… is this the one you might be thinking of? https://lilluna.com/spaghetti-pie/
I’m looking for the original too! It was so simple and delicious. I don’t see a link for it anywhere.
Could this be the recipe you are referring to? https://lilluna.com/spaghetti-pie/
This sounds so yummy, but I don’t see soyr cream listed in the ingredients. Is it part of this recipe?
Yes, it’s there in the ingredient list. 1 cup sour cream. 🙂
I made this last week and my husband keeps asking me to make it again. Easy recipe and absolutely fabulous. Adding it to our regular menu rotation. Yum
I’m gonna fix this recipe soon, I have never had this recipe. Looking forward to fixing this.
Hope you enjoy!
I’ve made this a couple times and my family loves it! Thank you!
You’re welcome! I’m so glad to hear your family loves the recipe. It’s one of my family’s favorites too.
Easy peasy! Love this easy meal for weeknight dinners! Also perfect for potlucks and get-togethers! Super tasty. Definitely a crowd pleaser! Yum!
The recipe was fast and easy. I’ve tried others and it was just too time consuming. Great for a quick weeknight dinner.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Excellent meal with little prep time..
That’s why I love it, too! Thank you!