• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Encharted Cook logo
  • Recipes
  • Charts
  • The Dish
  • About
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Charts
  • The Dish
  • About
  • Subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Charts
  • The Dish
  • About
  • Subscribe
×
Home » Recipes » Main Dish Recipes

Baked Spaghetti

Published: May 15, 2023 by Jan Nunes

Spaghetti with marinara sauce topped with cheese in a white baking dish with text overlay.
Spaghetti with marinara sauce topped with cheese in a white baking dish with text overlay.
Spaghetti with marinara sauce topped with cheese in a white baking dish with text overlay.
Spaghetti with marinara sauce topped with cheese in a white baking dish with text overlay.

Baked Spaghetti is your favorite spaghetti made extra saucy and topped with gooey cheese for a super easy casserole to serve now or bake later.

You might be wondering why you should bother with baking sauced spaghetti that you can serve right away... and the answer is because it is so good!

Spaghetti with marinara sauce topped with cheese in a white baking dish.
Jump to Recipe

When you bake pasta it plumps a bit from the sauce and the edges become deliciously crispy. This is what cozy comfort food is all about!

Jump to:
  • Why This Recipe Works
  • Ingredients
  • Step-by-Step Instructions on How to Make Baked Spaghetti
  • Make it for 2, or Small Families
  • My Top Tips
  • Substitutions & Variations
  • Make-Ahead & Storage
  • More Delicious Main Dishes
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

Why This Recipe Works

My mom used to make this casserole often and actually, we never had spaghetti that wasn't baked. While everyone else in my neighborhood was having a bowl of pasta with sauce poured over the top, my mom was mixing pasta with her sauce and then baking it in a large round baking dish that was used for every casserole she ever made.

The inside of the casserole was hot, hearty, and every bit of the flavorful sauce was absorbed by the pasta. But it was the crispy edges that no one could resist and everyone got a serving that had some of that crispy deliciousness.

The beauty of this recipe is you can make it more than just one way. You can make it exactly as written, or you can add more or less cheese, add veggies, omit the butter, or switch out the ground beef.

You can also make it in advance, earlier on the day you want to serve it, or almost a week in advance.

But the best thing about Baked Spaghetti is this cozy casserole is fantastic to have after a tough day or a long week. It always feels like home cooking at its best.

So, let's cook!

Ingredients

The ingredients, clockwise from top left: spaghetti, ground beef, shredded mozzarella cheese, shredded parmesan cheese, chopped parsley, cooked pasta water, butter, and marinara sauce.

Here's what you need to make Baked Spaghetti:

  • Spaghetti - You can use fresh or dried, whichever is your favorite. I like Barilla because it cooks easily and I've rarely overcooked it.
  • Ground Beef - I generally use 85% fat ground beef, which is more flavorful. If you choose to use 90% or less fat, you will need to use 2 tablespoons of olive oil when browning the meat to get a good sear and good browning adds lots of flavor.
  • Marinara Sauce - Use your favorite, I like to make my own, but any store-bought brand you love will also be delicious.
  • Butter - Adding a very small amount of butter to the pasta when you fold it into the sauce adds a smooth richness that makes this dish awesome.
  • Pasta Cooking Water - Pasta cooking water is the secret to getting the sauce to meld with the pasta. Just dip a measuring cup into the pasta and water and fish out a good cup before draining the cooked spaghetti.
  • Shredded Mozzarella Cheese - Mozzarella cheese is classic and will add melted cheesy goodness to this dish.
  • Parmesan Cheese, Grated or Shredded - Parmesan cheese can be grated or shredded and adds nutty and salty flavors. Inexpensive brands are fine for this casserole.
  • Chopped Fresh Parsley - Just a sprinkling of fresh green herbs makes this dish so pretty but this is totally optional.
  • Non-Stick Cooking Spray (Not Shown)- You will need to keep the casserole from sticking to the baking dish and a quick coating of non-stick cooking spray works like magic.

Please see the recipe card for the exact quantities.

Step-by-Step Instructions on How to Make Baked Spaghetti

Process Photo 1 - A large white baking dish is greased with non-stick cooking spray.

Prepare. Preheat the oven to 350°F/177°C and grease a 13”x 9”x 3" baking dish with cooking spray.

Process Photo 2 - Spaghetti is being boiled in a large pot.

Cook the Spaghetti. Cook the spaghetti to al dente according to the package directions. Reserve ⅔ cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the spaghetti and set it aside.

Process Photo 3a - Marinara sauce is added to browned ground beef in a large skillet.
Process Photo 3b - The marinara sauce, ground beef, and cooked pasta water are simmered in a large, deep skillet.

Make Meaty Marinara. In a large, deep skillet brown the ground beef. Pour off the excess fat and stir in the marinara sauce and pasta cooking water. Bring to a simmer and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.

Process Photo 4a - Spaghetti and butter are added to the meaty marinara sauce.
Process Photo 4b- The sauced spaghetti has been poured into a greased baking dish.

Combine. Add the cooked spaghetti and butter. Let the butter melt and then mix everything together and pour it into the prepared baking dish.

Process Photo 5 - Shredded mozzarella and parmesan cheese is sprinkled on top of the spaghetti casserole.

Bake. Sprinkle the top with both cheeses and bake uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes or until hot throughout and the cheese is melted. Garnish with fresh herbs and serve!

Spaghetti with marinara sauce topped with cheese in a white baking dish.

Make it for 2, or Small Families

Make the recipe as listed and serve half of the spaghetti for dinner without baking it and use the rest to make a smaller Baked Spaghetti for later in the week. Simply pour half of the spaghetti into a greased 8 or 9-inch baking dish, top with cheese, and cover with foil. Refrigerate for up to 5 days.

My Top Tips

♡ Getting a good sear and browning the meat will add tons of flavor.

♡ Cooked pasta water helps the pasta and sauce combine into a cohesive dish. If you use jarred sauce, swish some of the pasta water in the jar to get every bit of your delicious marinara sauce.

♡ Jars of pasta sauce are often sold by the weight of the contents of the jar and not the volume. This is why 48 ounces of weight equals approximately 4 ½ cups of sauce.

♡ You will need a deep 13"x 9" baking dish to hold all of the saucy pasta topped with cheese. Mine is exactly 3" deep and was perfect.

A forkful of baked spaghetti with meaty marinara sauce.

Substitutions & Variations

  • Use Your Favorite Cheese. You can substitute your favorite melting cheese for the mozzarella and the parmesan. Great choices are cheddar, cheddar jack, and Monterey jack.
  • Add Your Favorite Veggies. You can add your favorite veggies either layered in the casserole or added to the sauce. Great choices are zucchini, eggplant, and even cauliflower. Some veggies hold a lot of water and should be par-cooked before layering them in the casserole.
  • Substitute Ground Turkey or Italian Sausage. You can use your favorite ground meat or a blend of half Italian sausage and half ground beef.
  • Double the Cheese. Pour half of the spaghetti into the baking dish and add an additional layer of shredded cheese. Then add the rest of the spaghetti and finish with the topping of cheese.
  • Budget Version. For a thriftier version omit the butter and the parmesan cheese.

Make-Ahead & Storage

This is a perfect make-ahead casserole that you can make up to 5 days in advance. Simply cover the casserole with aluminum foil that has been greased with buttered or cooking spray and refrigerate. Let the casserole come to room temperature as the oven heats and cook it at 400°F for 60 to 75 minutes or until hot and bubbling.

Store leftover Baked Spaghetti in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat gently in a skillet, in the oven, or in the microwave.

Spaghetti with marinara sauce topped with cheese in a white baking dish.

More Delicious Main Dishes

  • Close up view ot cooked spaghetti with green peas, minced garlic, red peper flakes, and grated parmesan cheese on a pale pink dinner plate.
    Spaghetti Aglio with Green Peas
  • Close view of reuben casserole topped with tomato, cheese, and thousand island dressing fresh from the oven.
    Reuben Casserole
  • Beautifully browned pork chops are smothered in creamed corn in a smoked glass baking dish.
    Pork Chops in Creamed Corn
  • Cheesy Chicken Tenders Parmesan are smothered in marinara sauce and cheese in a glass baking dish.
    Chicken Tenders Parmesan

♡ Did you try out this recipe? Please give it a Star Rating below and tag @enchartedcook on Instagram and hashtag it #enchartedcook.

📖 Recipe

Spaghetti with marinara sauce topped with cheese in a white baking dish.

Baked Spaghetti

4.59 from 24 votes
Encharted Cook | Jan Nunes
Baked Spaghetti is your favorite spaghetti made extra saucy and topped with gooey cheese for a super easy casserole to serve now or bake later.
Prevent your screen from going dark
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 25 minutes mins
Baking Time 30 minutes mins
Total Time 55 minutes mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine American, Italian
Servings 8 Servings
Calories 479 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 13"x 9"x 3" Baking Dish

Ingredients
 

  • Non-Stick Cooking Spray
  • 16 Ounces Spaghetti
  • 1 Pound Ground Beef
  • 4 ½ Cups Marinara Sauce, Homemade or From a Jar (2-24 ounce Jars)
  • ⅔ Cup Pasta Cooking Water
  • 3 Tablespoons Butter
  • 1 Cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
  • ¼ Cup Parmesan Cheese, Grated or Shredded
  • 2 Teaspoons Chopped Fresh Herbs, Parsley or Basil

Instructions
 

  • Prepare. Preheat the oven to 350°F/177°C and grease a 13”x9” baking dish with cooking spray.
    Non-Stick Cooking Spray
  • Cook the Spaghetti. Cook the spaghetti to al dente according to the package directions. Reserve ⅔ cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the spaghetti and set it aside.
    16 Ounces Spaghetti
  • Make Meaty Marinara. In a large, deep skillet brown the ground beef. Pour off the excess fat and stir in the marinara sauce and pasta cooking water. Bring to a simmer and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
    1 Pound Ground Beef, 4 ½ Cups Marinara Sauce, ⅔ Cup Pasta Cooking Water
  • Combine. Add the cooked spaghetti and butter. Let the butter melt and then mix everything together and pour it into the prepared baking dish.
    3 Tablespoons Butter
  • Bake. Sprinkle the top with both cheeses and bake uncovered for 30 minutes or until hot and the cheese is melted. Garnish with fresh herbs and serve!
    1 Cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, ¼ Cup Parmesan Cheese, 2 Teaspoons Chopped Fresh Herbs

Encharted Cook Notes

My Top Tips
♡ Getting a good sear and browning the meat will add tons of flavor.
♡ Cooked pasta water helps the pasta and sauce combine into a cohesive dish. If you use jarred sauce, swish some of the pasta water in the jar to get every bit of your delicious marinara sauce.
♡ Jars of pasta sauce are often sold by the weight of the contents of the jar and not the volume. This is why 48 ounces of weight equals approximately 4 ½ cups of sauce.
♡ You will need a deep 13"x 9" baking dish to hold all of the saucy pasta topped with cheese. Mine is exactly 3" deep and was perfect.
Substitutions & Variations
  • Use Your Favorite Cheese. You can substitute your favorite melting cheese for the mozzarella and the parmesan. Great choices are cheddar, cheddar jack, and Monterey jack.
  • Add Your Favorite Veggies. You can add your favorite veggies either layered in the casserole or added to the sauce. Great choices are zucchini, eggplant, and even cauliflower. Some veggies hold a lot of water and should be par-cooked before layering them in the casserole.
  • Substitute Ground Turkey or Italian Sausage. You can use your favorite ground meat or a blend of half Italian sausage and half ground beef.
  • Double the Cheese. Pour half of the spaghetti into the baking dish and add an additional layer of shredded cheese. Then add the rest of the spaghetti and finish with the topping of cheese.
  • Budget Version. For a thriftier version omit the butter and the parmesan cheese.
Make-Ahead & Storage
This is a perfect make-ahead casserole that you can make up to 5 days in advance. Simply cover the casserole with aluminum foil that has been greased with buttered or cooking spray and refrigerate. Let the casserole come to room temperature as the oven heats and cook it at 400°F for 60 to 75 minutes or until hot and bubbling.
Store leftover Baked Spaghetti in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat gently in a skillet, in the oven, or in the microwave.

Nutrition Per Serving

Calories: 479kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 65mg | Sodium: 866mg | Potassium: 704mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 849IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 150mg | Iron: 3mg

All nutritional information on this site is an estimate. Your results may vary.

centered image

More Main Dish Recipes

  • Meatloaf sliced on a white plate is garnished with parsley.
    Low Sodium Meatloaf
  • A serving of a casserole of red enchilada sauce, shredded chicken, cheddar cheese, and corn tortillas on a white plate with a fork.
    Crock Pot Chicken Enchilada Casserole
  • Baked chicken leg quarters coated with in a savory spice rub on a rimmed baking pan.
    Baked Chicken Leg Quarters
  • Lasagna with lots of melted cheese is cut into square servings and ready to serve.
    Ragù Lasagna without Ricotta

Primary Sidebar

Jan Nunes, owner and content creator at Encharted Cook.

Hello and Welcome to Encharted Cook!

I'm Jan and I love to cook for friends and family. Over the years I have learned that many recipes are related and if you learn to make one delicious dish and you can make many more. So come join me as I chart recipes and ingredients and share my favorite dishes.

More about Jan →

♥Summertime Favorites

  • Corn salad in a glass dish.
    Fresh Summer Corn Salad with Lime Dressing Recipe
  • Wedges of bright red tomatoes are mixed with cucumber and pickled red onions in a large green glass bowl.
    Tomato Cucumber Salad with White Balsamic Dressing
  • Macaroni salad with red onion and black olives in a glass bowl.
    Southern Macaroni Salad
  • Two tall fruity cocktails garnished with a slice of orange and maraschino cherries.
    Bahama Mama

♥ Featured Chart

  • Make a Casserole Chart featured image on a red background.
    Make a Casserole Chart

Footer

↑ back to top

More About Encharted Cook

Privacy Policy
Copyright Notice
Contact Me

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • RSS Feed

COPYRIGHT © 2018 - 2023 ENCHARTED COOK, JAN NUNES