This baked spaghetti casserole makes pasta evening really easy! That is one in every of my household’s favourite dinners, with layers of saucy floor beef and loads of bubbly, melty cheese.
For mates and households that basically get pleasure from their pasta, you must also make my Rooster Pasta Bake and this wildly fashionable Mediterranean Baked Feta Pasta.
Is it simply me, or are spaghetti casseroles having a second? My social media has blown up these days with recipes for Million Greenback Spaghetti and baked spaghetti alfredo. So, I believed I’d share my household’s favourite model of a comfortable spaghetti casserole.
It is a tremendous easy recipe that layers tender spaghetti with thick and hearty home made meat sauce and many melted cheese. There’s tomatoes, there’s mushrooms, there’s garlic. It’s complete consolation meals, and boy, are the flavors good!
Why You’ll Love This Spaghetti Casserole Recipe
- Straightforward to make. Put together the meat sauce on the stovetop, and it’s a matter of layering the whole lot collectively in a casserole dish. Spaghetti casserole places a enjoyable spin on household dinner, and leftovers freeze nicely for future meals.
- Finances-friendly. My floor beef spaghetti casserole makes use of cheap elements, however packs in numerous scrumptious savory taste. I’ll serve it with a aspect of garlic breadsticks and a salad for a hearty restaurant-quality meal at dwelling.
- Adaptable. It’s straightforward to modify up the elements on this casserole to swimsuit even the pickiest of eaters! Omit the mushrooms, add in further cheese, or strive completely different add-ins. You’ll discover a few of my favourite concepts just a little additional on within the submit.
What You’ll Want
I make this casserole with a fast stovetop model of my Italian-style home made spaghetti sauce. A lot of the elements you’ll want go into the sauce. Scroll right down to the recipe card for a printable checklist of elements.
- Spaghetti – Whereas it received’t technically be a spaghetti casserole, you can also make this pasta bake with linguine, angel hair, or simply about any dried pasta.
- Onion and Garlic – You’ll sauté your aromatics in olive oil to present the meat filling some taste. Diced yellow onion works, and also you’ll wish to use freshly minced garlic.
- Floor Beef – I like to make use of 80/20 lean floor beef. You too can make this casserole with different floor meat, like floor rooster, turkey, or pork.
- Mushrooms – We’re large mushroom followers (even my youngsters love ’em). If mushrooms aren’t your cup of tea, although, be happy to omit them.
- Tomatoes – You’ll want canned diced tomatoes.
- Pasta Sauce – I exploit a 24-ounce jar of our favourite tomato/pasta sauce.
- Herbs – I exploit recent or dried oregano, basil, and parsley (Italian seasoning works, too).
- Cheese – I like the mixture of delicate melty mozzarella and sharp parmesan on this casserole. Be happy to make use of your favourite!
How one can Make a Spaghetti Casserole
I like that this casserole turns a traditional spaghetti dinner right into a crowd-pleasing dish. And it’s really easy! Right here’s a brief step-by-step.
- Prepare dinner the pasta. Begin by cooking the spaghetti in accordance with the bundle instructions.
- Make the sauce. In the meantime, cook dinner the onions, floor beef, and garlic over medium warmth. Add some mushrooms, tomatoes, and your favourite tomato sauce. Cowl and let the meat sauce simmer for about quarter-hour, then stir within the oregano, basil, and parsley.
- Assemble. Starting with a layer of meat sauce, layer the spaghetti and sauce right into a 9×13” casserole dish. Give the casserole a sprinkle of shredded mozzarella and parmesan.
- Bake. This spaghetti casserole goes into the oven at 375ºF for 18-20 minutes. Afterward, relaxation the casserole for a couple of minutes, then dig in!
Make Forward
- Make Forward and Refrigerate: You may put together the casserole forward of time. After assembling, cool it, cowl it, and refrigerate for a few days earlier than baking.
- Prep & Freeze: To prep and freeze with out baking, assemble the casserole, together with the cheeses on high. Cowl it with plastic wrap and aluminum foil, then freeze it for as much as two months.
Recipe Suggestions & Variations
- Don’t overcook the spaghetti. Solely boil the spaghetti noodles till they’re simply barely al dente. Because you’ll be baking the spaghetti afterward, you don’t need the pasta to develop into mushy.
- Extra veggies. This baked spaghetti is nice with diced zucchini, butternut squash, carrots, you identify it. Be happy to stir in your favorites together with the mushrooms (or, you realize, as an alternative of the mushrooms).
- Strive one other pasta sauce. Swap out the fast meat sauce on this recipe with any sauce that you just’d like. I additionally love this home made Bolognese sauce.
- Add alfredo sauce. Flip this casserole right into a model of the viral TikTok baked spaghetti alfredo from some time again. It’s as straightforward as tossing the cooked noodles in home made alfredo sauce earlier than layering them into the casserole with the bottom beef sauce as directed.
Serving Strategies
I like a spaghetti casserole served with fluffy home made focaccia, or I’ll use my favourite garlic butter sauce to show a loaf of bakery-fresh ciabatta into garlic bread. Spherical issues out with a Caesar salad or a roasted vegetable salad, and you’ve got a comfortable and comforting weeknight meal. Don’t overlook to avoid wasting room for tiramisu for dessert!
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
- Refrigerate. In the event you ask me, spaghetti casserole tastes even higher the subsequent day. Retailer any leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days.
- Reheat. Heat this casserole both entire or in parts. I wish to cowl and reheat it in a 350ºF oven, however you can even use the microwave.
- Freeze. This casserole additionally freezes nice for as much as 3 months. I’ll generally bake two and freeze one for later! It’s straightforward to defrost it within the fridge in a single day earlier than reheating.
Extra Pasta Casserole Recipes
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Prepare dinner the pasta. Prepare dinner the spaghetti in accordance with the instructions on the bundle. Drain and put aside.
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Saute. Warmth olive oil in a big saucepan over medium warmth. Add diced onions and cook dinner for 1 minute. Add floor beef and garlic, and season with salt and pepper. Proceed to cook dinner till the meat is browned.
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Make the sauce. Stir within the sliced mushrooms, diced tomatoes, and pasta sauce. Carry to a boil, then decrease to a simmer. Cowl and proceed to cook dinner for quarter-hour. Take away from warmth and stir in oregano, basil, and recent parsley.
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Prep. Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Evenly grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray.
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Assemble. Layer 1/3 of the cooked beef combination into the underside of the baking dish. Add 1/2 of the cooked spaghetti over high, adopted by half of the remaining beef combination. Repeat, ending with a high layer of beef sauce.
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Make it tacky. In a small bowl, mix each shredded cheeses and blend till mixed. Sprinkle the cheese over the casserole.Tip: At this stage, you’ll be able to cool, cowl, and refrigerate the casserole for a couple of days or freeze it for two months.
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Bake. Bake for 18 to twenty minutes, uncovered, or till bubbly and cheese is melted. Let the casserole relaxation for a couple of minutes earlier than serving.
Serving: 2.25cups | Energy: 536kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 38g | Fats: 17g | Saturated Fats: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 1g | Monounsaturated Fats: 7g | Trans Fats: 0.3g | Ldl cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 1377mg | Potassium: 1166mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 883IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 444mg | Iron: 6mg
Dietary information is an estimate and supplied as courtesy. Values might range in accordance with the elements and instruments used. Please use your most well-liked dietary calculator for extra detailed information.
