Creamy Dreamy Baked Spaghetti Casserole
A cozy, easy, and crowd-pleasing baked spaghetti casserole recipe featuring cream cheese, marinara sauce, ground beef, and mozzarella cheese. Ready in under an hour.
Equipment
- Oven Preheat to 350°F (175°C)
- Large skillet For browning the ground beef
- 9x13-inch baking dish Grease before use
- paper towel-lined plate To drain excess grease from the beef
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 12 oz spaghetti noodles Any brand
- Salt For pasta water
- 8 oz cream cheese Softened
- 24 oz marinara or spaghetti sauce Jarred or homemade
- 1 lb ground beef Lean or regular
- 2 garlic cloves Minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- fresh parsley Optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cook spaghetti according to package directions, drain well, and toss with softened cream cheese.
- Brown ground beef with minced garlic and Italian seasoning in a large skillet; drain excess grease.
- Stir in marinara sauce and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
- Spread spaghetti mixture in the baking dish.
- Top with beef and sauce mixture.
- Sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
- Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
- Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired.
Notes
Substitutions: Ground turkey or Italian sausage for beef. Add mushrooms or bell peppers. Different cheeses like provolone or Italian cheese blend. Add red pepper flakes for spice. Can be prepped ahead and refrigerated; add 10-15 minutes to baking time. Can be frozen unbaked; thaw overnight and add 15-20 minutes to baking time.