Enjoy a hearty, homemade bowl of spaghetti casserole any day you like! Beefy, cheesy, and oh-so-yummy, every spoonful feels like a taste of home. It’s a timeless, classic dish that will never disappoint!
Who can say no to a delicious plate of pasta? It’s one of those dishes that’s like a complete meal in a bowl – you get a healthy mix of carbs, protein, and sometimes even a dose of veggies, all in a single serving!
And, out of the countless ways to prepare pasta, one of the simplest and most beloved has to be the good old spaghetti. It seems like every family has their own delicious take on it, and today, I’m excited to share ours with you: this fantastic, flavorful spaghetti casserole!
It has everything you love about homemade spaghetti but with the deliciousness factor taken up a notch. Best of all, it’s so easy to make that you’ll want to add it to your meal rotation ASAP, especially when you just want to enjoy something good without much effort.
Ready to learn a new way to make and love the humble spaghetti? Let’s begin!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Ingredients Needed For Baked Spaghetti Casserole
- 1 pack of spaghetti
- 2 cups minced or ground beef
- 1 ½ cup sour cream
- 1 tsp garlic salt
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese
- 2 cans spaghetti sauce
Step-by-Step Instructions With Pictures
1. Cook the spaghetti according to the instructions on the pack.
2. In a pan, fry the minced beef. Break the pieces with a spatula to ensure a more thorough and even cooking.
3. Add the garlic salt, dried herbs, spaghetti sauce, and sour cream to the pan.
4. Add half the mozzarella cheese and the cooked spaghetti to the beef and stir.
5. Transfer the mixture to a heat-resistant pot or baking dish. Add the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese on top of the spaghetti and beef.
6. Bake in the preheated oven at 375° F for 30 minutes.
7. Take the dish out of the oven and let it rest for a few minutes. Serve, and enjoy!
Secrets To Making The Ultimate Ground Beef Spaghetti Casserole
- Let It Rest: After baking, let the casserole rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. This extra step allows the dish to settle, making it easier to serve.
- Flavor The Pasta: After cooking, you can add some olive oil, salt, or even a sprinkle of garlic salt or dried herbs to the spaghetti to give it flavor.
- Deeper Is Better: Use a deep casserole dish to bake the pasta to prevent overflow or spills in the oven.
- Grate Going: If possible, use freshly grated cheese instead of pre-shredded ones, as they give better flavor.
Serving Spaghetti Casserole With Ground Beef
Looking to make this dish the star of the dinner table? Follow these tips:
- Classic Pair: Serve with a side of warm garlic bread or breadsticks.
- Red and Green: Pair the dish with a mixed greens salad drizzled with your favorite dressing.
- Tastefully Herby: Sprinkle chopped fresh herbs like basil or parsley on top of the casserole as a garnish to give it a burst of color and flavor.
- Customizable Plates: Serve the spaghetti with small bowls of grated cheese, olive oil, or red pepper flakes so guests can customize their meals.
- Made Better With Veggies: Roasted or grilled vegetables like bell peppers, asparagus, or zucchini are fantastic to serve alongside the spaghetti casserole.
Delicious Twists On Spaghetti Bake Casserole Recipe
Switch up the meal by trying any of these suggestions:
- Vegetarian Version: Use sauteed vegetables like mushrooms or spinach in place of the beef, and make sure you’re using vegetarian-friendly Parmesan cheese and spaghetti sauce when making the recipe.
- Cheese To the Max: Add ricotta cheese and fontina cheese to make this a 4-cheese spaghetti casserole.
- Mighty Meaty: Top the dish with pepperoni slices, diced bacon, or small meatballs.
- Meat and Veggie Mix: Add sauteed mushrooms, roasted eggplant slices, diced potatoes, or steamed broccoli florets to the mix for a nutrient and flavor boost.
- Spicy Casserole: To give the spaghetti a spicy kick, add red pepper flakes, chili powder, hot sauce, or use spicy Italian sausage instead of minced beef.
Storage And Reheating
Store: Store leftover baked spaghetti in an airtight container in the fridge. The leftovers will be safe to eat for up to 4 days.
Freeze: For meal prep, place the cooked dish in a freezer-safe container and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Reheat: You can reheat the dish in the oven, microwave, or stovetop until heated through. Add a few drops of water to maintain moisture and prevent the sauce from sticking to the pan or dish. If reheating frozen food, thaw it in the fridge overnight first.
One Last Thing
If you’re looking for an easy recipe for spaghetti casserole, this one is perfect for you! It uses simple, affordable ingredients you might already have at home, and you can customize the flavors to suit your taste.
Nothing beats the flavor of homemade pasta, and this one proves it. This spaghetti casserole is a dish worth serving, even if you’re cooking for one, for your family, or hosting a gathering with friends.
It’s delicious, filling, and heartwarming – a taste of warmth and comfort in every bite!
Your Turn
If you make this spaghetti casserole, please take a moment to let me know how you liked it by leaving a rating and a comment below on the recipe card. Follow me on Pinterest and Facebook for more easy and tasty recipes!
More Comforting Recipes To Try
Heartwarming Homemade Spaghetti Casserole
Equipment
- Pan
Ingredients
- 1 pack of spaghetti
- 2 cups minced or ground beef
- 1 ½ cup sour cream
- 1 tsp garlic salt
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese
- 2 cans spaghetti sauce
Instructions
- Cook the spaghetti according to the instructions on the pack.1 pack of spaghetti
- In a pan, fry the minced beef. Break the pieces with a spatula to ensure a more thorough and even cooking.2 cups minced or ground beef
- Add the garlic salt, dried herbs, spaghetti sauce, and sour cream to the pan.1 ½ cup sour cream, 1 tsp garlic salt, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp dried basil, 2 cans spaghetti sauce
- Add half the mozzarella cheese and the cooked spaghetti to the beef and stir.2 cups mozzarella cheese
- Transfer the mixture to a heat-resistant pot or baking dish. Add the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese on top of the spaghetti and beef.½ cup Parmesan cheese, 2 cups mozzarella cheese
- Bake in the oven at at 375° F for 30 minutes.
- Take the dish out of the oven, and let it rest for a few minutes. Serve, and enjoy!
Notes
- Let It Rest: After it’s done baking, let the casserole rest for about 5-10 minutes before serving. This extra step allows the dish to settle, making it easier to serve.
- Flavor The Pasta: After cooking, you can add some olive oil, salt, or even a sprinkle of garlic salt or dried herbs to the spaghetti to give it flavor.
- Deeper Is Better: Use a deep casserole dish for baking the pasta to prevent any overflow or spills in the oven.
- Grate Going: If possible, use freshly grated cheese instead of pre-shredded ones as they give better flavor.
Nutrition
Tamara Tsaturyan is the owner and writer of Thriving In Parenting, a website focused on providing simple tips for busy parents — easy and healthy recipes, home decor and organization ideas and all things P A R E N T I N G.
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