Description
Mexican Spaghetti Casserole delivers pure comfort straight from grandma’s kitchen to your dinner table. Creamy cheese, tender pasta, and bold spices blend together for a hearty meal that brings smiles to hungry faces.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 taco seasoning packet
Dairy:
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Monterey jack cheese
- ½ cup unsalted butter
Vegetables and Seasonings:
- 16 ounces cooked spaghetti
- 15 ounces tomato sauce
- 10 ounces enchilada sauce
- 1 onion
- 1 green bell pepper
- 4 garlic cloves
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- Fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick spray. Your prep work starts here.
- Brown 1 pound ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat for 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess fat.
- Sprinkle 1 packet taco seasoning, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon cumin, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper over the meat. Stir thoroughly.
- Add 1 small diced onion and 1 diced green bell pepper to the skillet. Cook until vegetables soften, about 3-5 minutes.
- Pour 15 ounces tomato sauce and 10 ounces enchilada sauce into the meat mixture. Simmer for 15 minutes on low heat.
- Melt ½ cup unsalted butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add 4 minced garlic cloves and saute for 30 seconds.
- Pour 2 cups heavy cream into the butter. Stir in 1 cup sharp cheddar and 1 cup Monterey jack cheese. Season with ½ teaspoon salt and pepper.
- Cook the cheese sauce until cheese melts completely and sauce thickens slightly.
- Toss 16 ounces cooked spaghetti into the creamy cheese mixture, ensuring pasta is evenly coated.
- Transfer the creamy spaghetti to the prepared baking dish. Spread the meat mixture evenly on top.
- Sprinkle 1 cup sharp cheddar and 1 cup Monterey jack cheese over the casserole.
- Bake uncovered at 350°F for 15 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Allow the casserole to rest for 5 minutes after removing from the oven. Optionally garnish with fresh chopped cilantro before serving.
Notes
- Check ground beef for even browning and drain excess fat to prevent a greasy casserole.
- Taste the sauce before layering to ensure the seasoning matches your preference for spice and salt.
- Let the casserole rest after baking so the cheesy layers can set and make serving easier.
- For a lighter version, swap ground beef for ground turkey and use reduced-fat cheese options.
- Prep Time: 10-12 minutes
- Cook Time: 40-45 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 632 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 44 g
- Saturated Fat: 25 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg