Description
Baked cream cheese spaghetti casserole delivers pure comfort straight from your kitchen, melding creamy textures with classic pasta goodness. Weeknight dinners get an instant upgrade with this simple, crowd-pleasing dish that brings smiles around your table.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 8 oz spaghetti
Cheeses:
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Seasonings and Sauce:
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Set your oven to a precise 350F, ensuring the rack sits in the center position for even cooking.
- Boil 8 oz spaghetti in salted water for exactly 8-9 minutes until al dente, then drain thoroughly.
- Grab a mixing bowl and whisk 8 oz cream cheese until smooth and creamy at room temperature.
- Stir 1 cup marinara sauce into the cream cheese, blending ½ tsp garlic powder and ½ tsp onion powder for depth of flavor.
- Season your sauce mixture with a pinch of salt and fresh cracked pepper to enhance the overall taste profile.
- Fold the hot spaghetti into your cream cheese sauce, ensuring every strand gets coated evenly.
- Spread the saucy pasta into a 9×13 inch baking dish, creating an even layer.
- Sprinkle 1 cup mozzarella and ½ cup Parmesan cheese across the top, covering the entire surface.
- Slide the casserole into the preheated 350F oven and bake for precisely 25-30 minutes until cheese turns golden and bubbly.
- Remove from oven and let the dish rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow cheese to set slightly.
Notes
- Soften cream cheese at room temperature for easier mixing and a smoother sauce texture.
- Drain spaghetti well to prevent excess water from making the casserole watery.
- For a protein boost, add cooked ground beef or shredded chicken to the cream cheese mixture.
- Gluten-free diets can swap regular spaghetti for gluten-free pasta without changing the recipe’s core technique.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 585 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 33 g
- Saturated Fat: 19 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2.5 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg