The Best Cheesy Baked Spaghetti Recipe!
A classic baked spaghetti dish with well-seasoned meaty tomato sauce & pasta. It's layered with lots of mozzarella and cheddar cheese.
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!