This Easy Baked Spaghetti Casserole Recipe is creamy, cheesy, and packed with comforting flavor. It blends the best of lasagna and spaghetti into a single, easy-to-make casserole that’s perfect for weeknights, potlucks, or any time you want hearty comfort food.
This casserole layers spaghetti with a rich, meaty marinara and a creamy cheese mixture so every bite is satisfying. The recipe is straightforward, uses common pantry and fridge staples, and can be assembled ahead or frozen for later baking. It’s customizable, family-friendly, and one of those dishes that comes together quickly but delivers big on flavor.
Why You’ll Love this Easy Baked Spaghetti Casserole
- Easy to Make – Uses simple pantry and refrigerator staples and minimal prep.
- Budget-Friendly – No specialty ingredients required.
- Make-Ahead and Freezer Friendly – Assemble ahead or freeze an extra casserole to bake later.
- Family Favorite – A crowd-pleasing dish that’s great for family dinners and potlucks.
- Customizable – Swap cheeses, proteins, or add vegetables to suit your taste.
How to Make Baked Spaghetti Recipe
Ingredients
See the recipe card below for the full ingredients list, exact measurements, instructions, notes, and estimated nutrition information.
- Spaghetti: Your preferred type, cooked to al dente.
- Sauce: Ground beef, optional onion, and marinara sauce (homemade or store-bought).
- Cheese layer: Cream cheese, ricotta (or cottage cheese), sour cream (or Greek yogurt), and seasoning.
- Topping: Shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan to finish.
- Butter: Sliced and layered in the casserole for richness and flavor.
Step by Step Instructions
- Cook the spaghetti and prepare the marinara-based meat sauce.
- Prepare the creamy cheese mixture that will be layered between the noodles and sauce.
- Brush or layer butter in the baking dish as the first layer.
- Add a layer of cooked spaghetti.
- Spoon on a layer of the cheese mixture.
- Add a layer of the meat sauce over the cheese.
- Repeat with another round of butter, spaghetti, cheese mixture, and meat sauce.
- Bake the assembled casserole until heated through, then add the shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan and bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Finish baking, let rest briefly, then serve hot.
- Slice and serve. Garnish as desired.
What to Serve with Baked Spaghetti Casserole
A crisp green salad and a simple vinaigrette or creamy dressing pair nicely with this casserole. Add a crusty garlic loaf or your favorite bread to soak up extra sauce for a complete, comforting meal.
Recipe Tips and Variations
Cheese swaps: Use cottage cheese instead of ricotta for extra protein, or try provolone in place of mozzarella for a slightly smokier flavor.
Meat options: Swap ground beef for ground turkey, chicken, or Italian sausage, or use a combination of meats for more depth.
Veggie boost: Stir in sautéed spinach, bell peppers, mushrooms, or zucchini with the onions in the sauce for added color and nutrition.
Time-saver: Use a good-quality store-bought marinara to cut prep time, or make a large batch of homemade sauce and freeze portions for future recipes.
Kid-friendly: Break spaghetti into smaller pieces before cooking to make scooping and eating easier for little ones.
Vegetarian: Replace the meat with lentils, extra mushrooms, or a mix of roasted vegetables.
Gluten-free: Use certified gluten-free spaghetti and check all labels to keep the dish gluten-free.
Storage and Make-Ahead Instructions
Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat single portions in the microwave, stirring halfway through, or warm covered in a 350ºF oven until heated through.
Freezer: Assemble the casserole up to the baking step, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking. If baking from frozen, cover with foil and add 15–20 minutes to the initial baking time, then uncover to add the final cheese topping and finish baking until bubbly.
Make ahead: Prepare and assemble the casserole up to 24 hours ahead. Cover and refrigerate; allow it to come closer to room temperature while the oven preheats and add a few extra minutes to the bake time if needed.
Reheating tip: Add a splash of marinara or water before reheating and cover to retain moisture.
Here’s the full Easy Baked Spaghetti Casserole recipe below. Enjoy—let me know how it turns out!
Pin
Easy Baked Spaghetti Casserole Recipe
Equipment
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Dutch oven or stock pot
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Skillet
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Mixing bowls
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9×13 baking dish
Ingredients
- 8 ounces spaghetti, cooked
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/4 medium onion, chopped (optional)
- 2 cups marinara sauce, homemade or store-bought
- 1 teaspoon seasoning (such as Stone House seasoning)
- 1/2 cup butter, sliced thinly
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 1 cup ricotta cheese (or cottage cheese)
- 8 ounces sour cream (or Greek yogurt)
- 1 cup mozzarella, shredded
- 1/2 cup Parmesan, grated
Instructions
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Prep. Preheat oven to 350ºF.
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Cook spaghetti. Boil spaghetti in salted water until al dente, about 8–12 minutes. Drain.
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Cook beef. Brown ground beef in a skillet over medium heat until no longer pink, 5–7 minutes. Drain excess fat, add marinara sauce, and stir to combine.
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Make the cheese layer. In a medium bowl, mix cream cheese, ricotta (or cottage cheese), sour cream (or Greek yogurt), and seasoning until smooth.
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Assemble. Layer half the butter slices on the bottom of a 9×13 dish. Top with half the cooked noodles, half the cheese mixture, and half the meat sauce. Repeat layers (butter, noodles, cheese, meat sauce).
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Bake. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove foil or uncover, top with mozzarella and Parmesan, and bake an additional 15 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Let rest briefly before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation.
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Enjoy!
Robyn xo