The Best Cheesy Baked Spaghetti Recipe Ever!
Cheesy baked spaghetti is so crazy good! A classic Italian dish that is cost effective and a hearty meal to make. You have come to the perfect place – for the perfect baked spaghetti recipe! This is a layered dish with well-seasoned meaty tomato sauce, pasta, mozzarella, and cheddar cheese.
This is an easy dish to serve to hungry kids and adults. Everyone will love this delicious spaghetti recipe. But let’s not forget the extra pleasure of this recipe- it’s the next day leftovers. We all know that food always taste better the next day. Why? Because the spices have time to enhance the savory taste.
This baked spaghetti is super cheesy from the combination of mozzarella and cheddar cheese. If you want to take it up a notch, add a little topping of ricotta cheese along with the cheddar cheese and mozzarella. Allow the cheeses to melt to perfection!
The Best Cheesy Baked Spaghetti Recipe!
Ingredients
- 1/2 Ib Ground Beef
- 1/2 Ib Italian Sausage
- 1 Ib Thin spaghetti pasta
- 1/2 tsp Oregano
- 1 tsp Black Pepper
- 2 tsp Garlic Powder
- 2 tsp Onion Powder
- 2 Jars Pasta Sauce 24 oz (Recommend: Classico traditional sweet basil)
- 1 can Diced tomatoes (14.5 oz)
- 1 Onion (diced)
- 1 Green bell pepper (diced)
- 1 to 2 Tsp minced garlic
- 1 cup Shredded cheddar cheese
- Shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 tsp Italian Seasoning
- 1/4 tsp sugar (optional, adjust as needed to cut the acidity)
- 1/2 Tbs Olive oil
- Cooking spray
Note: **Sugar helps to cut the acidity of the tomatoes and creates an overall more balanced sauce. (Adjust amounts as needed)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
- Then, allow a large pot of water to come to a boil on high heat.
- Once the water comes to a boil, add a sprinkle of salt, and add the dry pasta.
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Once the pasta is done, drain the pasta in a colander and set aside.
- On medium high heat, in a skillet add the ground beef and Italian sausage.
- While cooking the meat season it with the black pepper, garlic powder, & onion powder.
- Stir the meat consistently and allow it to brown.
- Once the meat is browned, drain the meat/oil, and set the meat aside.
- Tip: Don’t pour the grease down the sink. usually, I place a colander in a plastic bag that has a few pieces of paper towel under the colander to soak up the oil.
- On medium high heat in a clean pot add some olive oil.
- Once the oil becomes hot, add the diced onion and bell pepper. Sauté for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Next, add the fresh garlic and sauté for 1 to 2 minutes or until it becomes fragrant.
- Add the spaghetti sauce, can of tomatoes, oregano, cooked meat, and a little bit of sugar.
- Note: * Sugar helps to cut the acidity of the tomatoes and creates an overall more balanced sauce. (Adjust amounts as needed)
- Stir everything together and allow your sauce to come to a slight boil.
- Once the sauce is at a slight boil, lower the heat and allow the meat sauce to simmer for 20 to 25 minutes.
- Next, add the cooked pasta and cheddar cheese to the meat sauce and stir. (Stir until the cheese has melted).
- Add a little bit of cooking spray to a glass dish or nonstick baking pan.
- Add half of the spaghetti mixture to the dish, then add a layer of the mozzarella & cheddar cheese.
- Add the remaining spaghetti mixture and add the top layer of cheddar cheese and mozzarella.
- Sprinkle the Italian seasoning on top.
- Place the baked spaghetti in the oven uncovered.
- Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.
- After the cheese has melted and it’s golden brown, remove the pan from the oven.
- Allow the baked spaghetti to sit for 15 minutes.
- Serve with fresh warm garlic bread & a side salad. Enjoy!
