Baked Spaghetti Recipe Easy Delicious Homemade Dish

Craving a comforting, crowd-pleasing pasta dish that's both easy to make and bursting with flavor?

Look no further than this baked spaghetti recipe, a guaranteed hit that transforms simple ingredients into a delicious homemade masterpiece.

Ingredients List

Alright, let's go into what we need; I promise it's easier than persuading your little brother to do the dishes!

For the soul of this baked spaghetti, we need the star – 500g/1lb of spaghetti. Then, grab 8-10 slices of Swiss. A simple layer of it will do. Now, get 2 cups (200g) of mozzarella cheese – shredded, alright? The best baked spaghetti recipes, like baked ziti, also use mozzarella cheese. Don't forget our sauce fixings. Two tablespoons of olive oil start things off. We'll need three minced cloves of garlic. You can get one onion, finely chopped, and if you're feeling fancy, a diced carrot and celery stick, too!

Finally, snag 750g/1.5lb of ground beef, ¾ cup (185ml) of dry red wine – or broth, your call! Get 3 beef bouillon cubes, 1.2kg/2.4lb of crushed tomatoes, and ¼ cup of tomato paste. A little sugar, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaves, thyme, salt, and pepper, as needed! Perfect!

Making the Bolognese Sauce

Let's explore into making the Bolognese sauce, where the magic begins! I always start with a good glug of olive oil in a big pot over medium-high heat – you wanna get that garlic and onion sizzling for about two minutes, followed by the celery and carrot for another three. Then, crank up the heat, toss in your ground beef, and break it up as it browns. You can also easily make chilli using the same method, just with different key ingredients.

Once the beef is looking good, add that ¾ cup of red wine – if you're skipping the wine, beef broth works too. Now for the fun part, simmer rapidly for two minutes. Then, add in everything else – crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar (if needed), Worcestershire sauce, bay leaves, and thyme.

Here are some pro tips:

** Simmer time! 45 minutes minimum, but 1.5-2 hours is even better!

**Keep an eye – add water if it becomes too thick.

** Taste and adjust – don't be shy with salt and pepper!

**Slow cooking = amazing flavor!

Assembling the Spaghetti Bake

With the Bolognese sauce happily simmered, it's time to focus on assembling this baked spaghetti masterpiece! And I promise, it will be delicious!

First, preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Gotta get that oven ready for the magic about to happen. Cook your spaghetti as per the packet instructions – but take it off the boil one minute before it's fully done. You don't want mushy spaghetti; al dente is the way to go!

Drain the spaghetti and put it back in the pot. Pour just over half the sauce over the pasta, and toss it all together. Make sure every strand is coated in that flavorful sauce.

Now, grab your casserole pan! Spread half the saucy spaghetti, then spoon half the remaining sauce over it. Arrange your cheese in slices – enough to cover the sauce. Remaining pasta, remaining sauce, then mozzarella. Off to the oven.

Tips and Storage

I wanna share some tips that'll make this baked spaghetti even easier – plus, how to store it! You'll be a baked spaghetti pro in no time!

Here's some quick rundown:

Don't overcook** the spaghetti initially – al dente is key!

Taste the sauce** and adjust seasonings BEFORE assembling!

• Let it stand 10-15 minutes after baking – easier to slice.
• Freeze before or after baking – freezer-friendly is awesome!

Leftovers will last for about 4 days in the fridge – and reheat like a dream. Just pop a slice in the microwave for a couple of minutes.

For freezing, assemble the bake, cover it tightly, and cool completely. Then, freeze it! You can bake it straight from frozen – adding about 25 minutes to the bake time. Thaw, then reheat in the microwave for approximately 2 minutes for a quick lunch! Enjoy!

Short Recipe Version

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 40 mins

Servings: 8

Ingredients:

• 1 lb spaghetti
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp dried basil
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1 (15 oz) container ricotta cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 egg, beaten

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Drain.
3. Brown ground beef in a large skillet. Drain excess grease. Add onion and garlic; cook until softened.
4. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 15 minutes.
5. In a bowl, combine ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese and egg
6. Mix the cooked spaghetti with the meat sauce.
7. Pour half of the spaghetti mixture into a greased 9×13 inch baking dish.
8. Spread ricotta mixture evenly over pasta
9. Top with remaining spaghetti mixture.
10. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese.
11. Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until bubbly and cheese is melted and lightly browned.
12. Let stand 10 minutes before slicing.

Nutrition Information (per serving, estimated):

• Calories: 450
• Protein: 30g
• Fat: 20g
• Carbohydrates: 35g