Description
Baked cream cheese spaghetti casserole brings comfort straight to your dinner table with creamy, cheesy goodness that feels like a warm hug from your favorite Italian grandmother. Packed with simple ingredients and guaranteed to satisfy hungry families, this casserole turns ordinary pasta night into something special you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb lean ground beef or turkey
- 12 oz spaghetti noodles
- 1 24 oz jar marinara or spaghetti sauce
Cheese Ingredients:
- 8 oz cream cheese (softened and cubed)
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 clove garlic (minced)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and boil 12 oz spaghetti noodles until al dente. Drain pasta and return to the pot.
- Toss the hot noodles with 8 oz softened cream cheese until every strand becomes creamy and evenly coated.
- Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and cook 1 lb ground beef for 6-8 minutes, breaking into small crumbles until no pink remains. Drain excess fat.
- Stir 1 tsp Italian seasoning and 1 minced garlic clove into the beef. Cook for 1 minute to release aromatic flavors.
- Pour 24 oz marinara sauce into the skillet and simmer for 5 minutes, allowing flavors to meld together.
- Spread a thin layer of beef marinara sauce across the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Layer the cream cheese-coated spaghetti evenly over the sauce base.
- Top the noodles with remaining beef marinara sauce, creating a complete coverage.
- Sprinkle 2 cups shredded mozzarella and ½ cup grated parmesan cheese across the entire casserole surface.
- Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes until cheese melts and edges turn golden brown.
- Remove from oven and let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow sauce to set.
Notes
- Always cook spaghetti al dente to prevent mushy texture in the final casserole.
- Use full-fat cream cheese for the richest, smoothest sauce that coats the pasta perfectly.
- For a lighter version, substitute ground turkey or lean ground beef to reduce calories.
- Garnish with fresh basil or parsley just before serving to add a bright, fresh flavor and color contrast to the rich casserole.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 44 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 500 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg