Description
Hearty baked spaghetti combines classic Italian comfort with irresistible cheesy goodness. Layers of tender pasta, rich marinara, and melted cheese create a crowd-pleasing meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 1 pound lean ground beef or Italian sausage
- 16 ounces (454 grams) uncooked spaghetti
- 1 ½ cups (170 grams) shredded mozzarella cheese
- ⅓ cup (30 grams) fresh parmesan cheese, shredded
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced
- ¼ cup (15 grams) fresh parsley or 2 tablespoons (8 grams) dried parsley
Sauce and Seasonings:
- 32 ounces (907 grams) pasta sauce or marinara sauce
- 14.5 ounces (411 grams) diced tomatoes with juices
- 1 ½ teaspoons Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
Instructions
- Warm the kitchen oven to a precise 375°F and carefully coat a spacious rectangular baking vessel with a light protective layer to prevent sticking.
- Select a generously sized cooking pot and prepare salted water for transforming spaghetti strands into perfectly tender pasta, following package guidelines for ideal al dente texture.
- Prepare a robust skillet over medium-high thermal intensity, introducing ground protein, finely diced aromatics, seasoned vegetable fragments, and pungent garlic elements.
- Continuously fragment the protein while ensuring thorough caramelization and even cooking, then carefully eliminate any accumulated lipid excess.
- Incorporate robust tomato-based sauce, traditional Italian herb blend, and chunky tomato components into the meat mixture, allowing the concoction to gently simmer and concentrate flavors for 5-10 minutes.
- Delicately fold cooked pasta strands and fresh parsley into the enriched sauce, ensuring comprehensive coating and flavor integration.
- Gracefully transfer the complete mixture into the prepared baking receptacle, creating an even landscape of culinary potential.
- Generously shower the surface with complementary cheese varieties, creating a luxurious molten topping.
- Position the assembled dish within the preheated oven, allowing 25-30 minutes for transformative heating and cheese metamorphosis into golden, effervescent perfection.
- Extract from oven and allow momentary cooling before portioning into elegant squares for serving.
Notes
- Perfectly cook spaghetti al dente to maintain ideal texture and prevent mushy pasta during baking.
- Layer flavors by browning meat with onions, garlic, and seasonings before adding sauce for deeper, richer taste.
- Drain excess fat from meat to ensure a lighter, less greasy dish that doesn’t become soggy.
- Use a combination of cheeses for a more complex and creamy melted topping that adds visual appeal and richness.
- Let the dish rest for 5-10 minutes after baking to help it set and make cutting into squares easier.
- Customize with optional add-ins like fresh basil, red pepper flakes, or additional herbs to personalize the recipe.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 66 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg