Spaghetti Casserole
Spaghetti Casserole is the ultimate comfort food, perfect for a hearty family dinner. This dish combines tender spaghetti noodles, rich meaty sauce, and plenty of melted cheese for a meal that’s easy to make and always a hit.
Servings: 6
Calories: 733kcal
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt divided use
- 1 ½ teaspoons black pepper divided use
- 1 pound spaghetti cooked al dente, drained
- 24 ounces spaghetti sauce
- 1 cup cottage cheese or ricotta cheese
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- 3 cups mozzarella cheese shredded, divided use
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- 1 tablespoon butter to butter the casserole dish
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese grated
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
- Place ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally until well browned.
- Stir in spaghetti sauce and remove from heat.
- In a mixing bowl, add 1 cup cottage cheese (or ricotta), 4 ounces cream cheese, 1 cup mozzarella, 1 minced garlic clove, 1 tablespoon dried basil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, beat with an electric mixer until smooth.
- Mix the cheese mixture with the cooked spaghetti.
- Butter a 9 x 13 inch baking dish and pour in the spaghetti mixture. Top with the meat sauce.
- Sprinkle 2 cups shredded mozzarella and 1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan over the top.
- Cover with foil, bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and continue cooking 10 minutes or until bubbly.
- Garnish with fresh parsley.
Notes
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: Warm individual portions in the microwave or reheat in a covered baking dish at 350°F until heated through.
- Variations:
- Swap ground beef for Italian sausage or ground turkey or chicken.
- Add sautéed mushrooms, bell peppers, onions or spinach for extra veggies.
- Use different cheeses like cheddar cheese or provolone for a unique flavor.
- Make it spicy with red pepper flakes.
Nutrition
Calories: 733kcal | Carbohydrates: 67g | Protein: 48g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 127mg | Sodium: 1844mg | Potassium: 913mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1416IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 488mg | Iron: 5mg
