Description
A cozy, crowd-pleasing casserole of spaghetti tossed in silky cream cheese, layered with a savory marinara meat sauce, and baked under a bubbly blanket of mozzarella and Parmesan.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 ounces spaghetti
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 24 ounces marinara sauce
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 to 4 tablespoons reserved pasta water, as needed
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti until just shy of al dente, then drain, reserving a small cup of pasta water.
- In a large bowl, combine hot spaghetti with softened cream cheese, adding 2 to 4 tablespoons pasta water until the noodles are evenly coated and silky.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté onion until translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add ground beef, breaking it up as it browns. Season with salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning. Cook until no longer pink, then stir in marinara sauce and simmer 2 to 3 minutes.
- Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish. Spread half the meat sauce on the bottom. Layer in the cream cheese spaghetti. Top with remaining meat sauce.
- Cover with foil and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 20 minutes. Remove foil, sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan on top, and bake 8 to 12 minutes more until melted and bubbly with lightly golden spots.
- Let rest 5 minutes for cleaner slices. Garnish with parsley or basil if desired, slice, and serve warm.
Notes
- Undercook pasta slightly since it will finish in the oven.
- Room-temperature cream cheese blends smoother with hot pasta.
- Use freshly shredded mozzarella for the best melt and flavor.
- Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for gentle heat.
- For a vegetarian version, swap beef for sautéed mushrooms and diced zucchini.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Pasta Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 470
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 740 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg