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Spaghetti casserole is a comfort-food classic turned cheesy baked pasta dish. It’s a deliciously easy way to feed the family!
Easy Baked Spaghetti Casserole
Have I mentioned how much we enjoy casseroles? Especially this spaghetti casserole!
Like most kids, ours LOVE Spaghetti, and this version is a cheesy favorite – plus, it’s crazy easy! We started with a meaty sauce and added sour cream and cheese to make it creamy and add flavor. For extra cheese we topped it with mozzarella and parmesan and baked it in the oven. So cheesy and so delicious!
It is also perfect for prepping ahead of time AND makes an easy freezer meal! Great for busy weeknights or for sharing.
This casserole is a simple, classic dinner that will never go out of style. Serve it with Garlic Bread or Garlic Knots for a full meal.
WHY WE LOVE IT:
- An easy weeknight dinner. It’s so easy to whip up and throw into the oven for dinner. Just 20 minutes of prep!
- Kid-approved. All the kids love this (and the adults do too)! It’s an elevated classic packed with creamy, cheesy flavor!
- Makes a great freezer meal. This casserole is perfect for making ahead of time or freezing for later – perfect for sharing!
Ingredients
PREP TIME: 20 minutes
COOK TIME: 45 minutes
- 1 (16-ounce) package spaghetti – angel hair is the most similar and keeps the “spaghetti” look, but you can also use shaped pasta such as penne and bow tie.
- 2 pounds ground beef – Use Italian sausage instead of, or along with ground beef, or use ground chicken or ground turkey.
- 1½ cups sour cream – or Greek yogurt, Ricotta cheese, or even cottage cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt (with parsley flakes)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided
- ½ cup parmesan cheese
- 2 (26.5-ounce) jars spaghetti sauce, or marinara sauce
- optional spice – red pepper flakes or hot sauce
- optional veggies – diced onions, mushrooms, shredded carrots, broccoli, or bell peppers
How to Make Spaghetti Casserole
- PREP. Preheat the oven to 350°F. While the oven is preheating, cook 16 ounces of spaghetti according to the package directions, then drain and set aside.
- Tip: Breaking the spaghetti noodles into quarters makes it easier to cut, serve, and eat.
- MEAT. While the spaghetti is cooking, add 2 pounds of ground beef to a large skillet. Cook, breaking into small pieces, until browned and cooked through. Drain the grease, then return the ground beef to the skillet.
- SAUCE. Add 2 jars spaghetti sauce (or Marinara sauce), 1½ cups sour cream, 1 teaspoon garlic salt, 1 teaspoon oregano, and 1 teaspoon basil to the skillet. Stir everything to combine.
- COMBINE. Add the cooked spaghetti noodles and 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese to the skillet, and mix.
- BAKE. Pour the mixture into a 9×13 baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining cup of mozzarella and ½ cup parmesan cheese over the top.
- Cover the casserole with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake an additional 10-15 minutes, until the cheese is bubbling and browned.
- Garnish with any fresh herbs like basil or parsley.
Spaghetti Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 (16-ounce) package spaghetti
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1½ cups sour cream
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt (with parsley flakes)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- ½ cup parmesan cheese
- 2 (26.5-ounce) jars spaghetti sauce, or marinara sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Cook the spaghetti according to the package directions, then drain.
- While the spaghetti is cooking, add the ground beef to a large skillet. Cook, breaking into small pieces, until browned and cooked through. Drain the grease, then return the ground beef to the skillet.
- Add the spaghetti sauce, sour cream, garlic salt, oregano, and basil to the skillet, and stir to combine. Add the noodles and 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese to the skillet, and stir to combine.
- Pour the casserole into a 9×13 baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and the parmesan cheese over the top.
- Cover the casserole with foil and bake 30 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, until the cheese is bubbling and browned.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Boil the pasta to al dente. Assemble the casserole, cover with plastic, and refrigerate for 24 hours before baking, or wrap again with foil and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
Place in an airtight container(s) and store in the fridge for 3-4 days or freeze for 2-3 months.
This recipe sounds awesome and I’m anxious to try it out! Would it be okay to use a different kind of pasta, for instance elbow or penne noodles? What do you think? I really appreciate the recipe and thank you in advance for your advice regarding the alternative types of pasta.
With Sincere Gratitude,
Kimberly
When I saw your link for spaghetti casserole, I immediately “jumped to the recipe” and totally overlooked the fact that you had already addressed the alternative pasta ideas for this meal! I apologize for the superfluous question that I just posted.
Thanks again for this delicious sounding recipe! Will attempt to try it out this evening…
Have a great day!
Sincerely,
Kimberly
Oh just seeing this comment now too! No worries at all. We’re happy to answer ANY questions you have! Hope you enjoy the recipe!
Yay! I hope you enjoy the dish. And yes, absolutely! You can use whichever kind of pasta you prefer.
Why is sour cream in this recipe? What does it do, add or change? Can I omit it?
The sour cream makes the texture of the sauce creamy and delicious! You could leave it out — the dish would have a slightly different texture and flavor. You could also substitute plain greek yogurt for the sour cream.
Nice & delicious option! We can get tired of regular spaghetti & this was easy & family friendly!
This was a yummy dinner! Easy to throw together and the family loved it! Who knew traditional spaghetti could be any better!
So simple to put together. I feel like this is easier to eat than spaghetti too. My family enjoyed this recipe and we will be making it again soon!
Thank you so much for sharing this super delicious spaghetti casserole! Very easy to make and fam really loves it!
This is such a fun and easy weeknight dinner. Delicious every time!
This casserole recipe is so easy and it’s delicious. I did add extra spices to add a little more favor. I did not have any basil so I add Italian spice, garlic black pepper spice, onion powder and oregano. I used sharp cheese instead parmesan cheese.
Perfect!! Those are great options! Thank you for sharing that!
I absolutely loved it! This one is going into the file to make again and again. My only change was to add a layer of pepperoni on the very top and cooked that the last 15 minutes. My extremely picky hubby ate two very large servings!
Yay!! That’s what I love to hear! Thank you for letting me know!
All your recipes sound or look great
Thank you
Thank you so much!! Hope you like the ones you try 🙂