Description
A comforting twist on traditional spaghetti, this Southern Baked Spaghetti Casserole features layers of tender noodles, rich marinara sauce, and gooey cheese, perfect for family gatherings or weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 lbs lean ground beef (93% lean recommended)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup sweet onion, finely chopped
- 1 large green pepper, seeded and finely chopped
- 15 oz can diced tomatoes, drained
- 24 oz marinara sauce (32 oz for a saucier casserole)
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh basil
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh oregano
- 1 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 14.5 oz spaghetti noodles (protein-plus pasta recommended)
- 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook for about 4 minutes, breaking it up to ensure even browning.
- Add minced garlic, onions, and green peppers. Cook until vegetables soften, approximately 4 more minutes.
- Drain excess liquid from meat mixture. Stir in drained diced tomatoes, marinara sauce, fresh basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Reduce heat to low and let sauce simmer gently.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti noodles according to package directions until al dente, then drain thoroughly.
- Generously spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with olive oil. Toss cooked spaghetti with shredded parmesan cheese and add to the dish.
- Pour the meat sauce over spaghetti and stir gently to combine.
- Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese on top of the casserole.
- Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, until the cheese is melted and golden brown on top.
Notes
For best results, allow the casserole to sit for a few minutes before serving. You can customize by adding more vegetables or using different cheese varieties.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 30
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 80mg