BAKED SPAGHETTI CASSEROLE

 

Baked Spaghetti Casserole

Ingredients

• 16 oz spaghetti
• 2 (24 oz) jars spaghetti sauce or marinara sauce
• 1 ¼ lbs ground beef or sweet Italian sausage
• 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 8 oz cream cheese
• 4 oz ricotta cheese
• 1 egg, room temperature
• ½ cup sour cream
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup shredded provolone cheese
• Chopped fresh Italian parsley
• Chopped fresh basil

Instructions

Cook the Spaghetti:

1. Cook the spaghetti al dente according to the package directions. Drain well and return to the pot. Stir in one jar of spaghetti sauce.

Prepare the Meat Sauce:

1. Meanwhile, brown the ground beef, adding the onion halfway through the browning process. Cook until the beef is browned and the onion is soft.
2. Reduce the heat to low and add the garlic, cooking for 1 minute while stirring constantly.
3. Add the other jar of spaghetti sauce and simmer. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

Preheat and Prepare the Casserole Dish:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray a 9×13 casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.

Prepare the Cheese Mixture:

1. In a medium bowl, using a handheld mixer, blend together the cream cheese, ricotta cheese, egg, sour cream, and Italian seasoning.

Assemble the Casserole:

1. Spoon half of the spaghetti noodles into the prepared casserole dish. Spread the cheese mixture over the noodles.
2. Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded mozzarella over the cheese mixture. Spoon the rest of the spaghetti noodles on top of the mozzarella.
3. Spoon the ground beef tomato sauce mixture over the spaghetti. Top with the remaining mozzarella and provolone cheese.

Bake the Casserole:

1. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the casserole is heated through.
2. Let it rest for about 10-15 minutes before slicing. Garnish with parsley and basil.

Notes

• Grease the casserole dish for easier cleanup.
• Feel free to substitute marinara for the spaghetti sauce.
• You can substitute ground sausage, Italian sausage, or ground turkey for the ground beef.
• The cheese mixture can be mixed with a spoon, but a handheld mixer makes it faster, easier, and creamier.
• Try adding other spices and herbs like garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, oregano, and thyme.
• If you prefer more vegetables, add tomatoes, sautéed spinach, or mushrooms.
• Let the casserole sit for 15 minutes after removing it from the oven to make it easier to cut into slices.
• This casserole sits high in a 9×13 dish, so be careful covering it with aluminum foil to keep it warm. Make a tent to keep from peeling off the top layer of cheese.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. Reheat in the microwave at reduced power until warm.
• To freeze, wrap the casserole with several layers of plastic wrap and freeze for up to two months. Defrost in the fridge overnight.