Ground Beef Spaghetti Casserole

Transform your weeknight dinners with this comforting, flavor-packed Ground Beef Spaghetti Casserole. This baked pasta dish combines tender spaghetti coated in creamy cream cheese, a hearty ground beef and tomato sauce seasoned with Italian herbs, and a generous layer of gooey melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Perfectly layered and baked to golden perfection, this casserole is an easy, family-friendly recipe that serves up big flavors with minimal effort. Ideal for busy evenings or meal prep, it’s a crowd-pleaser that reheats beautifully. Garnish with fresh parsley for a simple yet stunning presentation, and watch it disappear from the table! Keywords: ground beef spaghetti casserole, baked pasta dish, easy dinner recipe, family-friendly casserole, creamy baked spaghetti.

Nutriscore Rating: 69/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:40 mins

Total Time:60 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 12 oz spaghetti
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium onion
• 2 pieces garlic cloves
• 28 oz crushed tomatoes
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 2 tsp Italian seasoning
• 0.5 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1 tsp salt
• 0.5 tsp black pepper
• 4 oz cream cheese
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley (optional)

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with non-stick spray or a light coating of olive oil.

Step 2

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.

Step 3

Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes, until softened. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.

Step 4

Add the ground beef to the skillet. Cook while breaking it up with a spoon until browned and fully cooked, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess fat from the skillet.

Step 5

Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, to allow the flavors to combine.

Step 6

In a small bowl, mix the softened cream cheese into the cooked and drained spaghetti until evenly coated.

Step 7

To assemble the casserole, spread half of the spaghetti mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish. Layer half of the meat sauce over the spaghetti, followed by 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese.

Step 8

Repeat the layers with the remaining spaghetti, meat sauce, and mozzarella cheese.

Step 9

Sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese over the top as the final layer.

Step 10

Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese on top is melted and bubbly.

Step 11

Remove the casserole from the oven and let it sit for 5 minutes before serving.

Step 12

Optionally, sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley before serving for added freshness and garnish.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2180.1g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	3228.1

Total Fat 199.2g	0%
Saturated Fat 94.4g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 3.0g
Cholesterol 616.2mg	0%
Sodium 5325.3mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 181.5g	0%
Dietary Fiber 21.0g	0%
Total Sugars 41.8g
Protein 186.5g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 2467.3mg	0%
Iron 21.3mg	0%
Potassium 3685.8mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 54.9%

Protein: 22.8%

Carbs: 22.2%