Baked Cream Cheese Spaghetti Casserole
A delightful comfort food that combines classic spaghetti flavors with a creamy twist from cream cheese, making it perfect for busy weeknights and family gatherings.
Ingredients
Pasta and Meat
- 12 oz spaghetti
- 1 lb lean ground beef Can be substituted with ground turkey or sausage.
Sauce and Cheese
- 1 28 oz jar of spaghetti sauce
- 1 8 oz package of softened cream cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Seasonings
- 1 clove of garlic (minced)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- A pinch of garlic salt
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking pan.
- In a large pot, bring lightly salted water to a boil and cook the spaghetti until tender yet firm to the bite, about 12 minutes.
- Meanwhile, heat a skillet over medium-high heat, add the ground beef, and cook until browned and crumbly, about 5 to 7 minutes. Drain excess fat and stir in the spaghetti sauce.
- Drain the spaghetti and place it in a large bowl. Add the cream cheese, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and garlic salt. Stir until the cream cheese is melted and the spaghetti is evenly coated.
Assembly
- Spread a small amount of the meat sauce on the bottom of the prepared baking pan.
- Layer the spaghetti over it, followed by the remaining meat sauce.
- Sprinkle the Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses on top of the casserole.
Baking
- Bake in the preheated oven until bubbly, about 30 minutes.
Notes
Serve the casserole hot from the oven, garnished with fresh herbs like basil or parsley. For a complete meal, pair it with a simple green salad and garlic bread. To store leftovers, refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.