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a spatula lifting up a square piece of cream cheese spaghetti casserole.
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Baked Cream Cheese Spaghetti

Easy Baked Cream Cheese Spaghetti is comfort food perfection! Tender spaghetti is coated in a creamy, tangy cheese sauce and layered with a rich and flavorful homemade meat sauce.
Author Diana
Servings 8 Servings
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Resting Time 5 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes

Equipment

  • Medium pot
  • Large skillet
  • Mixing Bowls
  • 9x13-inch (23x33 cm) baking dish or 7x11-inch (18x28 cm)
  • Aluminum Foil

Ingredients

For the Meat Sauce:

  • 1 tablespoon (15 ml) olive oil
  • 1 pound (450 g) ground beef (90/10)
  • ½ cup finely diced onion
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 24 ounces (680 g) marinara sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon granulated sugar

For the Spaghetti & Cream Cheese Mixture:

  • 8 ounces (225 g) spaghetti
  • 8 ounces (225 g) cream cheese softened
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) sour cream
  • ½ cup (50 g) Parmesan cheese grated
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) reserved pasta water

For Topping:

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti until just al dente, then reserve ¼ cup of pasta water before draining.
  • In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the olive oil. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spatula. Add the onion and cook for 3 minutes, then stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
  • Pour in the marinara sauce, oregano, salt, black pepper, and sugar. Stir to combine, then simmer for 10 minutes.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the cream cheese, sour cream, Parmesan, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until smooth. Stir in the reserved pasta water, then toss with the cooked spaghetti until evenly coated.
  • Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch (23x33 cm) baking dish. Spread half of the meat sauce on the bottom of the dish. Layer all of the spaghetti mixture on top, then spread the remaining meat sauce over it. Sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
  • Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
  • Let the dish rest for 5 minutes before slicing. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired and serve with garlic bread or a side salad.

Video

Notes

  • Do not overcook the pasta. The spaghetti will continue to cook as it bakes in the oven, so it's best to start with just slightly undercooked (or al dente) pasta.
  • Save some pasta water! A little bit of the starchy water that you cooked the spaghetti in will help to loosen up the cheese sauce perfectly.
  • Garnish the dish or individual servings with chopped fresh parsley for a beautiful presentation.
  • Meal Prep: Make two pans of this casserole and keep one of them in the freezer. It will be ready and waiting for you the next time you want a delicious and simple meal.

Nutrition

Serving: 225g (8oz) | Calories: 443kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 88mg | Sodium: 1213mg | Potassium: 596mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 970IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 241mg | Iron: 3mg