Description
This Favorite Baked Spaghetti recipe is a comforting and hearty Italian-American dish perfect for family dinners. Featuring layers of tender spaghetti coated in a rich meat and tomato sauce, creamy cottage cheese, and gooey mozzarella, it’s baked to golden perfection for a deliciously cheesy and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 (16-oz) package spaghetti
Meat Sauce
- 1 lb Italian sausage
- 1 (26-oz) jar spaghetti sauce
- 1 (8-oz) can tomato sauce
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Cheese Mixture
- â…“ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 5 Tbsp butter, melted
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups cottage cheese
- 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350ºF. Lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray and set it aside to use later.
- Cook Spaghetti: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the spaghetti according to the package directions until al dente. Drain well and set aside.
- Make Meat Sauce: While the spaghetti cooks, heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the Italian sausage and cook until no longer pink, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Drain excess fat from the skillet, then stir in the spaghetti sauce and tomato sauce. Season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste, then remove from heat.
- Prepare Spaghetti Mixture: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, grated parmesan cheese, and melted butter. Add the cooked spaghetti to this mixture and toss well to coat each strand evenly.
- Layer the Casserole: Spoon half of the spaghetti mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread it out evenly. Layer half of the cottage cheese over the spaghetti, followed by half of the meat sauce, then half of the shredded mozzarella. Repeat the layering with the remaining spaghetti, cottage cheese, meat sauce, and mozzarella cheese.
- Bake the Spaghetti: Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, remove the foil and bake uncovered for an additional 20 to 25 minutes, or until the cheese is browned and bubbly.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and allow it to cool slightly before serving. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired for a colorful presentation.
Notes
- You can substitute ground beef or turkey for the Italian sausage if preferred.
- Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the meat sauce for a spicy kick.
- Using low-fat cottage cheese and mozzarella reduces the fat content while keeping it creamy.
- Make ahead tip: Assemble the casserole a day in advance, cover tightly, and refrigerate. Bake as directed, adding a few extra minutes if baking from chilled.
- Leftovers keep well refrigerated for 3 days and can be reheated in the oven or microwave.
