Ahhh Baked Spaghetti — cozy, cheesy, crowd-pleasing comfort food 🍝🧀
Here’s a classic, juicy, perfectly cheesy version that never fails.
Baked Spaghetti
Ingredients (serves 4–6)
Pasta
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400 g (14 oz) spaghetti
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Salt for boiling water
Meat Sauce
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500 g (1 lb) ground beef (or Italian sausage)
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1 small onion, chopped
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3 cloves garlic, minced
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2 cups marinara sauce (or crushed tomatoes)
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1 tbsp tomato paste
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1 tsp Italian seasoning
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Salt & pepper, to taste
Cheesy Layer
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1½ cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
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½ cup Parmesan cheese
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Optional: ½ cup ricotta or cream cheese (extra creamy!)
Instructions
1️⃣ Cook the spaghetti
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Boil spaghetti in well-salted water until al dente.
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Drain and set aside.
2️⃣ Make the sauce
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In a skillet, cook ground beef over medium heat until browned.
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Add onion and cook until soft.
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Stir in garlic, tomato paste, marinara, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
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Simmer 10 minutes.
3️⃣ Combine
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Toss cooked spaghetti with the meat sauce until evenly coated.
4️⃣ Assemble
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Preheat oven to 180°C / 350°F.
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Grease a baking dish.
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Spread half the spaghetti mixture in the dish.
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Add ricotta or cream cheese (if using).
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Sprinkle half the mozzarella.
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Repeat layers, finishing with mozzarella + Parmesan on top.
5️⃣ Bake
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Cover with foil and bake 20 minutes.
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Uncover and bake 10–15 minutes until bubbly and golden.
6️⃣ Rest & serve
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Let rest 5–10 minutes before slicing.
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Garnish with fresh basil or parsley.
Pro Tips
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Creamier version: Stir ¼ cup heavy cream into the sauce.
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Extra cheesy: Mix mozzarella into the pasta AND on top.
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No-meat option: Use sautéed mushrooms, spinach, or zucchini.
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Make-ahead: Assemble, cover, refrigerate up to 24 hours, then bake.
If you want, I can also share:
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Southern-style baked spaghetti (super rich & creamy)
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Chicken baked spaghetti
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One-pan, no-boil baked spaghetti