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Close-up of cheesy baked spaghetti on a white marble surface.

Cheesy Baked Spaghetti for a Comforting Family Dinner

Enjoy a hearty and comforting Cheesy Baked Spaghetti, perfect for a family dinner. This dish combines classic spaghetti with a rich meat sauce and a generous topping of melted cheese.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 550
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ingredients
  • 12 ounces spaghetti
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound ground beef (or Italian beef sausage)
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 24 ounces marinara or pasta sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • to taste Salt and pepper
  • 1.5 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese or cottage cheese

Method
 

  1. Bring salted water to a boil.
  2. Add spaghetti, cook al dente.
  3. Drain, rinse, toss with olive oil.
  4. Heat olive oil, cook beef and onion.
  5. Stir in garlic, cook 1 minute.
  6. Add marinara, simmer, season.
  7. Mix ricotta, egg, Parmesan, salt, pepper.
  8. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
  9. Spread sauce in baking dish.
  10. Layer spaghetti, ricotta, sauce.
  11. Sprinkle with mozzarella and cheddar.
  12. Repeat layers.
  13. Top with remaining cheese.
  14. Cover, bake 20 minutes.
  15. Uncover, bake 5-10 minutes.
  16. Let rest 10 minutes.

Notes

For a richer flavor, use Italian sausage instead of ground beef. You can also add vegetables like bell peppers or mushrooms to the meat sauce.