A spaghetti casserole makes a hearty, satisfying family meal, and this version adds a creamy element to the sauce: cream cheese. The cream cheesegives the marinara sauce a creamy texture anda more mellow flavor. Prep is easy, too. It’s just a matter of chopping onions and garlic, then combining everything to make the tasty sauce.
How To Make Spaghetti Casserole?
It’s really easy to make this casserole. Start by boiling the salted water for the spaghetti, then heat some oil in a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven. Put the beef in the hot oil and cook for 4 to 5 minutes. Break the beef up and add the onion, then continue cooking for 3 to 4 minutes longer. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute longer. While the beef is cooking, add the spaghetti to the boiling water and cook following the package directions. Add the cream cheese to the ground beef and mix until blended. Add the marinara sauce, oregano, and pepper to the meat; bring to a simmer and add half of the mozzarella cheese. Drain the spaghetti and add it to the sauce mixture. Stir to blend, Turn the spaghetti mixture into the baking dish, cover with the Parmesan and remaining mozzarella, and bake.
Make Ahead
Prepare the casserole and cover it with foil. Refrigerate the spaghetti casserole for a few hours or overnight. When it’s time to bake, let it stand at room temperature for about 1 hour, then bake as directed, adding 15 minutes or so if it is still quite cool.
Sides To Serve With a Spaghetti Casserole
- Tossed salad with Italian salad dressing.
- Coleslaw.
- Garlic bread.
- Broccoli salad.
How to Store and Reheat Leftover Spaghetti Casserole
- Refrigerate leftover spaghetti casserole in an airtight container and eat within 3 to 4 days.
- To reheat, put the spaghetti mixture in a lightly greased baking dish and drizzle with a few tablespoons of water. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake in a preheated 350 F oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until it is hot. Remove the foil and add a bit of shredded mozzarella cheese and continue cooking just until the cheese has melted.
Recipe Variations
- Use a different meat, such as ground turkey, Italian sausage, or ground chicken.
- Make it vegetarian with a plant-based ground beef substitute.
- Spice it up with 1/2 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes.
Creamy Spaghetti Casserole
Cream cheese makes this spaghetti casserole creamy and flavorful. It’s a great casserole to make for a crowd!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 4 to 6 servings 1x
- Category: Pasta, Casseroles, Ground Beef
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
- 8 ounces spaghetti
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 1 jar (24 to 32 ounces) marinara sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350 F and lightly grease a 2 1/2 to 3-quart baking dish.
- Put 3 quarts of water in a large saucepan with 1 tablespoon of kosher salt. Place the saucepan over high heat and bring to a boil. Add the spaghetti and bring back to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and boil following the package directions for al dente pasta. Drain the spaghetti.
- Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and let it cook, undisturbed, for 4 to 5 minutes, or until a brown crust is formed.
- Break the beef up, add the onions, and cook, stirring, for about 4 minutes longer. Add the garlic and cook for another minute.
- Add the cream cheese to the beef mixture and cook until well combined.
- Add the marinara sauce and oregano and bring to a simmer; simmer for 2 minutes. Add half of the mozzarella cheese and the drained pasta.
- Turn the mixture into the baking dish and top with the Parmesan cheese and remaining mozzarella cheese.
- Bake for 30 minutes, until the filling is bubbling and the topping is browned.
