Description
Creamy, cheesy, and packed with comfort, this Baked Cream Cheese Spaghetti Casserole is the perfect family-style dinner. Great for make-ahead meals or a cozy Sunday bake.
Ingredients
- 12 oz spaghetti
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 (28 oz) jar spaghetti sauce
- 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Pinch of garlic salt
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti until al dente, about 12 minutes. Drain and set aside.
3. In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook ground beef until browned and crumbly, about 5–7 minutes. Drain excess fat. Stir in spaghetti sauce and let simmer for 2–3 minutes.
4. In a mixing bowl, combine drained spaghetti with softened cream cheese, garlic, Italian seasoning, and garlic salt. Stir until pasta is evenly coated and creamy.
5. Spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom of the baking dish. Layer spaghetti mixture on top, then pour the remaining meat sauce over.
6. Sprinkle Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses generously on top.
7. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes, until the casserole is bubbly and cheese is golden.
8. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving for easier slicing.
Notes
Use a block of cream cheese for best texture.
Don’t overcook pasta; it continues cooking while baking.
Add red pepper flakes for heat.
Resting before slicing keeps layers intact.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 50 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12 of casserole)
- Calories: 390
- Sugar: 7g
- Fat: 17g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 22g