Mother Brown's Spaghetti Casserole

Cozy up with the classic comfort of Mother Brown’s Spaghetti Casserole, a hearty dish that combines tender spaghetti, rich homemade meat sauce, and layers of gooey melted mozzarella and parmesan cheese baked to golden perfection. This crowd-pleasing casserole is a perfect weeknight dinner, offering the ultimate combination of savory ground beef, fragrant Italian seasoning, and a touch of sweetness from crushed tomatoes and sugar. With simple pantry ingredients and just 20 minutes of prep time, this oven-baked pasta recipe is ideal for feeding a hungry family or making ahead for meal prep. Serve warm and garnish with fresh parsley for a pop of color and flavor—your dinner table will never be the same!

Nutriscore Rating: 71/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:35 mins

Total Time:55 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 12 oz Spaghetti
• 1 lb Ground beef
• 1 medium Yellow onion, diced
• 2 Garlic cloves, minced
• 28 oz Canned crushed tomatoes
• 6 oz Tomato paste
• 2 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp Salt
• 0.5 tsp Black pepper
• 1 tbsp Sugar
• 2 cups Mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 0.5 cups Parmesan cheese, grated
• 1 tbsp Olive oil
• 2 tbsp Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

Step 2

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

Step 3

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for 3-4 minutes, until softened.

Step 4

Add the minced garlic to the skillet and cook for another 1-2 minutes, until fragrant.

Step 5

Add the ground beef to the skillet. Cook until browned, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, about 6-8 minutes. Drain any excess fat.

Step 6

Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and sugar. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Step 7

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked spaghetti with most of the meat sauce, leaving about 1 cup of sauce for later.

Step 8

Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish lightly with olive oil or cooking spray. Spread half of the spaghetti-sauce mixture evenly on the bottom of the dish.

Step 9

Sprinkle 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese evenly over the pasta layer.

Step 10

Add the remaining spaghetti-sauce mixture on top, spreading it out evenly. Pour the reserved 1 cup of meat sauce over the top.

Step 11

Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese on top of the casserole.

Step 12

Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.

Step 13

Remove the aluminum foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and golden brown on top.

Step 14

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

Step 15

Garnish with freshly chopped parsley, if desired, and serve warm. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2176.2g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2956.9

Total Fat 160.2g	0%
Saturated Fat 71.3g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.3g
Cholesterol 537.1mg	0%
Sodium 5851.3mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 218.1g	0%
Dietary Fiber 29.4g	0%
Total Sugars 78.2g
Protein 179.3g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 2453.1mg	0%
Iron 28.5mg	0%
Potassium 5992.0mg	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: 47.6%

Protein: 23.7%

Carbs: 28.8%