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
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& VariationsUse 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 another 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 & StorageThis 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.