Southern Baked Spaghetti by Camila — spaghetti recipes

I bake this when a long day needs calm. It reads like casserole and hug in my stash of spaghetti recipes. I test baked spaghetti squash recipes and a healthy baked spaghetti recipe, then learn from squash spaghetti recipes and different spaghetti recipes. We share plates, try spaghetti and chicken recipes, and pack bright spaghetti salad recipes.

Table of Contents

• 1) Key Takeaways
• 2) Easy Southern Baked Spaghetti Recipe
• 3) Ingredients for Southern Baked Spaghetti
• 4) How to Make Southern Baked Spaghetti
• 5) Tips for Making Southern Baked Spaghetti
• 6) Making Southern Baked Spaghetti Ahead of Time
• 7) Storing Leftover Southern Baked Spaghetti
• 8) Try these Pasta next
• 9) Southern Baked Spaghetti
• 10) Nutrition

1) Key Takeaways

Camila from Camila Cooks keeps this bake cozy and simple. The dish sits in the family of spaghetti recipes and it brings weeknight comfort fast. Cheese melts. Sauce hugs noodles. The oven does most of the work.

You build a quick skillet sauce. You mix a creamy middle. You toss warm spaghetti with eggs for structure. The layers set in the pan and bake into tidy squares that slice clean for the table.

Make it now or later. The bake holds well for guests and travels well for a potluck. For reach and search, I drop a few terms that you may like such as easy spaghetti recipes and baked spaghetti recipes which both fit the spirit here.

2) Easy Southern Baked Spaghetti Recipe

I love big flavor that comes with small effort. In my binder of spaghetti recipes I lean on this one when the day runs long and the sink already feels full. The plan stays short. Brown meat. Stir sauce. Whip a creamy layer. Bake till bubbly. Those words calm the room and dinner lands on time.

The texture makes me smile. The top turns golden and stretchy. The center stays rich and smooth. The base holds steady so each square cuts neat. Friends call it pasta bake. I call it the easy path to a warm table and five quiet minutes before anyone asks where the forks went.

Readers ask for different spaghetti recipes that still feel homey. This fits. It takes well to tweaks and pantry moves. You can steer it mild for kids or add a little heat for grown ups. It wins on game nights and on slow Sundays too.

3) Ingredients for Southern Baked Spaghetti

Spaghetti I use dried spaghetti for bite and grip. Cook it till just tender so it finishes in the oven without turning soft. The noodles carry the sauce and set the shape.

Ground beef A lean blend keeps the sauce rich without extra grease. Break it into small bits so every fork picks up flavor.

Onion and garlic This pair builds a soft base in the skillet. The smell tells the room that dinner moves along and morale lifts.

Marinara and diced tomatoes Jarred sauce saves time and brings balance. Diced tomatoes add body and a bright edge that wakes the cheese.

Italian seasoning and a pinch of heat A measured shake gives herb notes. A tiny spark from red flakes keeps things lively without scaring kids.

Cream cheese cottage cheese and sour cream This trio makes the creamy layer that people talk about later. It melts into the pasta and keeps slices tender.

Parmesan A light snowfall in the mix adds nutty depth and helps the top brown.

Mozzarella and cheddar The mix gives pull and sharpness. It turns the top into a blanket that kids cheer for.

Eggs A quick toss with the hot pasta gives structure so the bake cuts clean. That small step does big work.

Parsley A fresh sprinkle at the end brightens each bite and adds color to the pan.

4) How to Make Southern Baked Spaghetti

Step one Heat the oven to three hundred fifty and grease a large baking dish. Bring a big pot of salted water to a lively simmer and cook the spaghetti till just shy of tender. Drain and toss with the eggs and a spoon of Parmesan.

Step two Warm oil in a skillet. Soften onion. Add garlic for a short minute. Crumble in beef and cook till browned. Season with the herb blend and a light pinch of red flakes.

Step three Pour in marinara and the tomatoes. Simmer till the sauce thickens and tastes round. You want a spoon to leave a brief trail through the pan.

Step four Beat cream cheese cottage cheese sour cream and the rest of the Parmesan till smooth. This becomes the creamy middle that sets the bake apart from other spaghetti recipes.

Step five Build the layers. Sauce on the bottom then the pasta then the creamy mix then the rest of the sauce. Finish with mozzarella and cheddar.

Step six Bake till the top bubbles and turns golden. Rest ten minutes so the layers relax then slice and serve.

5) Tips for Making Southern Baked Spaghetti

Salt the pasta water with intent. The noodles soak that first seasoning and taste better all the way through. Cook the pasta just to tender so it does not soften in the oven.

Let the pan rest before cutting. The pause helps slices hold shape and keeps plates neat. If the top browns too fast, tent with foil for a short spell then uncover to finish.

For search and planning, tuck in phrases like family dinner and pasta bake. If you collect easy spaghetti recipes this one joins that set with pride and saves your week more than once.

6) Making Southern Baked Spaghetti Ahead of Time

Assemble the layers in the morning or the night before. Cover tight and chill. When you bake from cold, add a few minutes and check for a steady bubble around the edge.

If you plan a crowd, build two pans. One can bake now and one can wait. The flavor holds in the fridge and even improves a touch by the next day which fits an easy spaghetti dinner for a crowd.

For variation, keep notes on small twists. Swap half the beef with mild sausage. Stir in a handful of spinach. Those nudges keep the dish fresh without leaving the lane of weeknight spaghetti recipes.

7) Storing Leftover Southern Baked Spaghetti

Cool leftovers to room temp. Pack in snug containers and chill for four days. Reheat covered till hot and the cheese softens again. A splash of water loosens the pasta if it feels tight.

For the freezer, wrap portions in layers to block air. Thaw in the fridge and warm in a low oven till the center steams. The flavor stays kind and the texture stays close to fresh.

I like a green salad on the side when I reheat a square. The contrast wakes the plate and keeps the meal light. A small fruit cup works well for kids.

8) Try these Pasta next

Easy Mediterranean Baked Salmon | Baked Salmon Recipes

Empanadas Recipe Spicy Baked Chicken by Camila

9) Southern Baked Spaghetti

Southern Baked Spaghetti by Camila — spaghetti recipes

I bake this when a long day needs calm. It reads like casserole and hug in my stash of spaghetti recipes. I test baked spaghetti squash recipes and a healthy baked spaghetti recipe, then learn from squash spaghetti recipes and different spaghetti recipes. We share plates, try spaghetti and chicken recipes, and pack bright spaghetti salad recipes.

Prep Time20 minutes mins

Cook Time40 minutes mins

Total Time1 hour hr

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keywords: baked spaghetti squash recipes, Camila Cooks, cheesy pasta bake, different spaghetti recipes, easy dinner, family casserole, healthy baked spaghetti recipe, southern baked spaghetti, spaghetti and chicken recipes, spaghetti recipes, spaghetti salad recipes, squash spaghetti recipes

Servings: 8 servings

Author: Camila

Ingredients

For the Meat Sauce

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium onion finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
• 24 ounces marinara sauce
• 14.5 ounces diced tomatoes drained

For the Creamy Layer

• 8 ounces cream cheese softened
• 1 cup cottage cheese or ricotta
• 1/3 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

For the Pasta and Topping

• 12 ounces spaghetti
• 2 large eggs lightly beaten
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley optional

Instructions

Cook the Pasta

1. Heat oven to 350 F and grease a 9 by 13 inch baking dish.
2. Boil spaghetti in salted water until just shy of al dente then drain.
3. Toss hot pasta with beaten eggs and half of the Parmesan and set aside.

Make the Meat Sauce

1. Warm oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
2. Cook onion until soft then add garlic for one minute.
3. Brown beef while breaking it up. Season with salt pepper Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes.
4. Stir in marinara and diced tomatoes. Simmer five to seven minutes until thick.

Mix the Creamy Layer

1. Beat cream cheese cottage cheese sour cream and the rest of the Parmesan until smooth.

Assemble and Bake

1. Spread half the meat sauce in the dish.
2. Layer the pasta then spread the creamy mixture over the pasta.
3. Top with the remaining meat sauce.
4. Cover with mozzarella and cheddar.
5. Bake 25 to 30 minutes until bubbly and the cheese melts.
6. Rest 10 minutes then sprinkle parsley slice and serve.

Notes

Use half beef and half Italian sausage for more depth. Swap cottage cheese with ricotta if you like it smoother. Make ahead Note Assemble cover and chill up to one day. Bake from cold and add five to ten minutes. Freezer Note Wrap tight and freeze up to two months. Thaw in the fridge and reheat covered.

10) Nutrition

Serving size one slice from a twelve slice pan. About four hundred eighty five calories. Sugar near eight grams. Sodium near eight hundred eighty milligrams. Fat near twenty five grams with thirteen saturated. Carbohydrates near thirty eight grams with three fiber. Protein near twenty eight grams. Values will shift with the brands you use.

Recipe by Camila for Camila Cooks. Short keywords used once each inside the copy include cheesy pasta and family dinner and pasta bake. Long phrases used once each include southern baked spaghetti with cream cheese and make ahead baked spaghetti casserole and easy spaghetti dinner for a crowd.