Cheesy Baked Spaghetti Recipe

Everyone loves spaghetti and this Baked spaghetti recipe is a delicious twist on the traditional dish that adds a layer of gooey, melted cheese and a satisfying crust. This pasta casserole combines the loved flavors of pasta, tomato sauce, and cheese into a casserole-style dish that’s both hearty and comforting.

Baked Spaghetti Recipe

This baked spaghetti is becoming a weeknight classic around my house. Baked spaghetti is so simple to make, that it is perfect for when you need a quick and tasty dinner. 

It is so easy to change up with things that I have in the pantry and fridge that it makes for a great meal that doesn’t always have to be the same flavors. 

One of the best things about this recipe is you can make it totally from grab-and-go items at the store or you can customize it with homemade sauce. It is the best baked spaghetti casserole recipe for everyone because it is so easy to change up.

Easy Pasta Recipes

• Chicken Asparagus Pasta
• Olive Garden Chicken Pasta
• One Pot Chicken Alfredo
• Shrimp Alfredo
• Easy Baked Ziti
• Baked Feta Pasta

What is Baked Spaghetti?

Baked spaghetti is similar to lasagna but without all the work of layering the noodles. Using cooked spaghetti noodles, sauce, cheese, and spices you just stir it all together, sprinkle more cheese on top, and then bake it in the oven. It is a recipe that is easy to make, full of flavor, and perfect for a weeknight meal or when you are having people over for dinner.

What Sauce goes best with Baked Spaghetti?

You can use any sauce that you like. If you are using a jarred sauce go for one that has spices already in it. If you are using a plain sauce then you will want to add a bit of seasoning like garlic powder, oregano, and basil to give it more flavor. I make homemade sauce and keep them in the freezer, so when I am going to make baked spaghetti for dinner, I pull one of them out of the freezer the night before to defrost and then use that to make my baked spaghetti.

Some of my favorite sauces to use when making pasta dishes, including this easy spaghetti recipe are:

• Sun dried tomato Pasta Sauce
• Homemade Marinara Sauce
• Spicy Bacon Tomato Sauce
• Creamy Tomato Pasta Sauce
• Homemade traditional Spaghetti Sauce
• Spaghetti Meat Sauce
• Cherry Tomato Sauce

What to Serve with Baked Spaghetti

Baked spaghetti is great on its own, but I always like to make sure we have a well rounded dinner. pairing it with the right side dishes can elevate your dining experience. Here are a few suggestions:

Garlic Bread: A classic choice that complements the flavors of the pasta and adds a satisfying crunch.

Salad: There are many options when it comes to salad. If I have extra time then I will make a fancy salad like, this Avocado BLT Salad, copycat olive garden salad, Caesar Salad or Strawberry Spinach pecan salad, otherwise, a bag salad from the store works perfectly. 

Roasted Vegetables: Oven-roasted vegetables, roasted cauliflower, Lemon Roasted Asparagus, Roasted Brussels Sprouts, and Parmesan Asparagus such as flavor, and a nutritional boost to your meal. 

Italian Antipasto Platter: Create a spread with cured meats, olives, cheeses, and marinated artichokes for a delightful mix of textures and flavors.

Variations of this recipe

Add meat. You can add meat to this recipe, so you have baked spaghetti with meat sauce to add more flavor, be sure to cook the meat before mixing it in with the cooked spaghetti. Ground beef, Italian sausage, and ground turkey are all great options.

Add veggies. You can add veggies to the baked spaghetti casserole instead of having them as a side dish. Some great options are onions, bell peppers, eggplant, and squash. Just cook them with a little bit of salt, black pepper, and garlic powder in a skillet and then add them to the spaghetti mixture before pouring the spaghetti noodles into the casserole dish. Diced tomatoes are also a great addition, I like to use the canned ones that already have Italian seasoning in them. 

Add more cheese. If you love cheese you can add more. If you want to have a creamier baked spaghetti add 1 cup of ricotta cheese or cottage cheese to the baked spaghetti when you are mixing in the sauce and the cheese for an extra creamy pasta casserole. 

Add some spice. If you want to add a kick of heat, add some red pepper flakes to the sauce mixture while mixing everything.

Can I make this ahead of time?

If you know you are going to be short on time at dinner time, you can prep baked spaghetti ahead of time. Cook the spaghetti noodles and stir everything together. Then place it in the casserole dish cover it in foil and place it in the fridge until it is time to make dinner. Then just pop it in the oven at dinner time to finish cooking. You may need a few extra minutes of cooking time after having it in the fridge, so just keep an eye on it when it is cooking.

This pasta casserole also makes for a great freezer meal. You can prep everything and put it in the baking dish (I like to use aluminum foil pans when making freezer meal casseroles) and then freeze it for up to 3 months. Then when you plan on making it remove it from the freezer and thaw in the fridge overnight and then bake as the directions say.

How to Store Leftovers

Allow the baked spaghetti to cool to room temperature before transferring it to an airtight container. Stored in the fridge it will keep for up to 3-4 days.

Can I freeze Baked Spaghetti?

You can freeze cooked baked spaghetti. I like to take our leftovers and portion them into individual servings and then use my food saver to make meal packets and freeze them for the kids to have easy grab and go lunch items. 

Baked Spaghetti Recipe Ingredients

• uncooked spaghetti noodles. Any brand will do, and if you don’t have spaghetti noodles you can use other types of pasta instead.  
• pasta sauce. You can use any jarred or homemade sauce for this recipe. If using a jarred sauce be sure to use one that already has seasonings in it. 
• mozzarella cheese. Use fresh mozzarella and shred it yourself to have the best melted cheese in this dish. You can use the pre-shredded mozzarella however it does not melt 
• parmesan cheese. Shredded or grated parmesan is what you need for this recipe. I like buying the block of cheese and shredding it myself.
• basil. I like to use fresh basil if I have it on hand, but fresh or dried basil works for this recipe.
• salt. 

How to Make Baked Spaghetti Recipe

Shred the mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese if needed and set aside. 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Over medium-high heat, bring a large pot of water to a boil and add the Salt to the water. 

Once the water is boiling, add your pasta and cook the pasta 2 minutes short of the package directions on the box.

Drain the cooked spaghetti with a colander and add the pasta back into the pot.

Add the pasta sauce and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and mix well. 

Pour the spaghetti into a 9×13 baking dish.

Top with the remaining cup of mozzarella cheese, and parmesan cheese, and sprinkle the basil on top.

Bake for 20 minutes, or until cheese is golden and bubbly.

Easy Pasta Recipes

• Chicken Asparagus Pasta
• Olive Garden Chicken Pasta
• One Pot Chicken Alfredo
• Shrimp Alfredo
• Easy Baked Ziti
• Baked Feta Pasta