Baked Spaghetti Recipe
By habee
At our house, one of our favorite great American recipes is spaghetti. What’s that – you thought spaghetti was Italian? Okay, I’ll say it’s an Italian-American recipe. I think my husband could eat spaghetti or similar dishes just about every day. I make several different versions of the dish, but this is definitely one of my preferred methods. In fact, I think it might be my favorite. I think I like it because everything “sticks together” better. You don’t have to chase the pasta all over your plate.
This recipe makes a lot of spaghetti. I make it in two separate dishes, and I often send one home with my daughter when she stops by my house after work. I enjoy making and sharing food with my family and friends, and she enjoys not having to cook after working a ten or eleven-hour day as a nurse. It’s a win-win situation for both parties.
If you don’t have any fresh basil, use dried instead, but use only one-third as much because the dried version is more concentrated. Also, I like a sweet spaghetti sauce, but if you don’t, omit the sugar. You might also want to add other ingredients, like mushrooms, black olives, green olives, and/or pepperoni. I use a lot of cheese in this recipe, but you might prefer to use less.
Holle’s Baked Spaghetti recipe
What you’ll need:
1 ½ - 2 pounds ground beef
1 small onion, diced
8-serving size box spaghetti
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 cans tomato sauce
1 small can tomato paste
½ cup grated parmesan cheese
1 – 2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon fresh chopped basil
1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 teaspoons minced garlic
Salt, to taste
4 cups (or more) shredded mozzarella cheese
Directions: Brown ground beef and onions until meat is just done. Drain and set aside. Crumble meat.
Cook spaghetti in salted water and olive oil, according to directions on box. Cook at the least amount of time the directions suggest.
While the pasta is cooking, make the sauce. Combine remaining ingredients, except for the mozzarella cheese, in a large bowl. Stir in crumbled ground beef and onion.
When pasta is done, drain it well. Pour pasta into two baking dishes. I use a 13 x 9 dish and a smaller dish. Cover the pasta with the sauce. Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over the top.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes or so, until cheese has melted and casseroles are slightly firm.
Comments
I love baked spaghetti, there is less hassle, less mess, and it sticks to your ribs. This recipe will be perfect for my little guy, there will be (hopefully) less of an urge to throw it across the room.
Good Morning, habee, good to see you "back in the kitchen" cooking up some great food. (Not that I don't enjoy your other talents). This really does look good; I'll try it. It's a little different than usual and that's what I like about it. Hope it's a beautiful day for you in my old home place: Georgia!
Looks good Habee....looking for a recipe I can stick with. Have seen many variations of Baked Spag and I will give this one a try...thanks for sharing !!
This is something I've not made in quite a few years. The only difference i my recipe is that I use old cheddar cheese. I'll try it with the mozzarella though. Looks yummy!
Good morning, Cardisa!
jenu, great point! I think maybe I started making baked spaghetti casserole when my girls were little. lol
Habee, this sounds fantastic. Ever put in a touch of Cinnamon? I do mine very very differently and for some reason or other never tried it this way. I'm printing this out so I can take it with me the next time I do my grocery shopping. Thanks much!
Hmmmmmm.....this reminds me of my childhood.....
My mother would make spaghetti, the "normal" way...but leftovers would be re-heated in the oven, as that was way before we had microwave ovens....so baked spaghetti, indeed...I am familiar. ...Thanks for reminding me of this!
Voted up.
I have had many plates of spaghetti but never baked i will try it this way looks yummy.
An interesting take on a traditional recipe. Reminds me of my hub on gringo tacos. I'm going to have to make this. it looks delicious. Thanks for sharing.^ and useful
Me, too, Holle, I hate spaghetti that slides and slithers all over the plate. Your baked spaghetti looks as delicious as lasagna which is one of my favorite foods - after brownies and chocolate, that is. Actually, I would eat it BEFORE the brownies and chocolate. Grazie for this Americano-Italiano recipe.
This recipe reminds me of one my mom used to make, only hers was called "More". Just add corn, peas, and olives. Oh, and about a half lb. of cooked sweet Italian sausage with a little lean ground beef.
Great hub!
This sounds really good. I'm going to have to try this (only I'll swap out the beef for lots of veggies)! Thanks for sharing! :)
This look delicious and easy! Perfect for colder weather. Thanks for sharing another great recipe!
Wow, this looks incredible and I bet it tastes even better!
Hi, Mary. Sorry, I'm just getting to these comments. The weather here right now is awful - tornadoes all around us!
Wmod, I really hope you enjoy it!
Susan, I use cheddar when I don't have any mozzarella, but I really prefer Italian cheeses with most pastas. Thanks!
Lizzy, my mom used to do the same thing! Prolly where I got the idea. lol
Hi Habee, I feel like the odd lady out most people here I notice are familiar with baked spaghetti. This is the first time I have heard of the dish. It looks very good. I am going to try it have to just sub the ground beef with my veggie crumbles. I am sure it still will be just as delicious. Guess what I am booking this recipe. Thanks for sharing.
Myawn, thanks for visiting!
Thanks, PDX. Now I have to check out your tacos!
drbj, sometimes I add a layer of ricotta, and then the baked spaghetti really IS a lot like lasagna!
Planter, that sounds great! Thanks!
Reprieve, try using textured soy crumbles instead of ground beef!
Random, glad you stopped by a look-see!
Simone, I must admit, it's pretty darn yummy! lol
Adrienne, I often make this spaghetti with veggie crumbles, and hubby can't even tell the difference!
habee, thanks for checking out my taco recipe!
You're more than welcome, PDX!
Hey! I just wanted to let you know that I tried this recipe last week-- only I substituted lots of veggies for the beef. It turned out great! It even got my room mate's stamp of approval! Thanks for sharing!! :)
Reprieve, that's great! Thanks for letting me know!!
Cardisa 6 months ago
Habee, you have such amazing recipes. It's 6 AM and am quite hungry now thanks to you...lol