Baked Cream Cheese Spaghetti
Baked Cream Cheese Spaghetti is a comforting and creamy casserole that’s perfect for busy weeknights or potluck dinners. This dish combines tender spaghetti with a rich cream cheese sauce, flavorful marinara, and melted cheese for a hearty, crowd-pleasing meal.
Baked Cream Cheese Spaghetti
Baked Cream Cheese Spaghetti is a comforting and creamy casserole that’s perfect for busy weeknights or potluck dinners. This dish combines tender spaghetti with a rich cream cheese sauce, flavorful marinara, and melted cheese for a hearty, crowd-pleasing meal.
Equipment
- Large pot for boiling spaghetti
- Large skillet for sauce
- Mixing bowl
- Baking dish (9x13 inch)
- Wooden spoon or spatula
Ingredients
- 12 oz spaghetti
- 1 lb ground beef or turkey optional
- 1 jar 24 oz marinara sauce
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons olive oil for browning meat
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Spaghetti
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Boil spaghetti in salted water according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- Prepare the Meat Sauce (Optional)
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef or turkey and cook until browned.
- Stir in marinara sauce, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- Make the Cream Cheese Layer
- In a mixing bowl, combine softened cream cheese with ¼ cup of the marinara sauce and a splash of the pasta water. Stir until smooth and creamy.
- Assemble the Casserole
- Spread a thin layer of the meat sauce on the bottom of the baking dish.
- Toss the cooked spaghetti with the cream cheese mixture until well coated.
- Layer the spaghetti over the meat sauce.
- Top the spaghetti with the remaining meat sauce.
- Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses evenly over the top.
- Bake
- Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
- Serve
- Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy warm!
