Description
Transform your pasta night with this Ultimate Baked Spaghetti Casserole, a comforting masterpiece that layers robust beef marinara with a rich, velvety homemade alfredo sauce. This sophisticated yet approachable dish combines lean ground beef, savory sauces, and plenty of gooey mozzarella to create a golden, bubbling casserole that feels like a warm hug. Perfect for busy weeknights or feeding a crowd, it delivers high-end comfort food with minimal cleanup, ensuring a satisfying and indulgent meal every single time.
Ingredients
1 pound spaghetti pasta
Sea salt (for pasta water)
1 pound lean ground beef
Garlic salt to taste
2 jars (24-ounce each) marinara sauce
1 jar pizza sauce
1 stick (8 tbsp) unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
12 ounces mozzarella cheese, freshly grated
Fresh parsley or oregano for garnish
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Cook spaghetti in salted boiling water until al dente, then drain.
In a large skillet, brown the ground beef, seasoning with garlic salt; drain excess fat.
Stir the marinara and pizza sauces into the browned beef and simmer for 5 minutes.
Prepare the alfredo sauce in a saucepan by melting butter, then whisking in heavy cream and parmesan cheese until thickened.
In a large casserole dish, toss the cooked pasta with the alfredo sauce.
Spread the meat sauce evenly over the pasta layer.
Top with a generous layer of freshly grated mozzarella cheese.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until the cheese is bubbling and slightly golden.
Garnish with fresh parsley or oregano before serving.
Notes
For best melting, always grate your mozzarella and parmesan blocks at home instead of using pre-shredded bags which contain anti-caking agents. This dish is freezer-friendly; cover tightly and bake from thawed for a quick weeknight dinner.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (approx 1/8 of casserole)
- Calories: 580
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 950mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 95mg