Description
A cheesy, hearty baked spaghetti casserole layered with savory meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and bubbly melted cheese. Perfect for family dinners, freezer meals, or cozy comfort food cravings. Easy to make and even better the next day.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz spaghetti
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 24 oz marinara sauce
- 1 cup ricotta or cottage cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook spaghetti in salted water until al dente. Drain and toss with a little olive oil.
- In a skillet, heat olive oil. Sauté onion until soft, then add garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Add ground beef and cook until browned. Drain excess fat.
- Stir in marinara sauce, season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Simmer 10 minutes.
- In a bowl, mix ricotta (or cottage cheese), egg, and half of the Parmesan.
- Spread a thin layer of meat sauce in a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Layer half the spaghetti, then the cheese mixture, then more sauce and mozzarella. Repeat.
- Top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.
- Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake another 15-20 minutes, until golden and bubbly.
- Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes