Spaghetti Casserole

This spaghetti casserole recipe combines spaghetti with a flavorful seasoned meat sauce layered in a casserole dish. That's topped with melted cheese and crispy, buttery bread crumbs. It's so delicious and comforting, and you'd never believe how easy it is to make!

The Best Spaghetti Casserole

I love all-in-one casserole recipes, and this honestly might be my new favorite. It combines the classic flavors of spaghetti and meatballs with the convenience of being baked in a casserole dish.

This baked spaghetti casserole has tender noodles mixed with seasoned ground beef in a flavorful tomato sauce. It's taken up a notch with the addition of melted shredded cheese and crunchy breadcrumbs on top. Every bite of this comfort food meal is layered with flavor!

I love making this simple million dollar spaghetti casserole whenever I'm hosting since it's so effortless but tastes better than something you'd get at an Italian restaurant. It always impresses and is a popular meal with kids and adults! 

As good as this spaghetti casserole is on its own, it's even better when you serve it with some sides. You can serve this baked spaghetti casserole with some air fryer garlic bread to dip in the meaty sauce and this house salad for the ultimate restaurant-style Italian meal!

Why This Recipe Works

It's easy to make. All you have to do is cook the spaghetti and the ground beef, add in the rest of the ingredients, then toss everything in your casserole dish and bake it in the oven. It's foolproof!

A winning combination. From the flavor of classic spaghetti and meatballs to the crispy cheesy topping, there's a whole lot to love about this casserole.

Perfect for a crowd. This recipe makes a pretty big, filling casserole, so it's perfect for serving at a dinner party, for the holidays, or for a big family dinner.

Ingredients

Another reason this baked spaghetti casserole is one of my favorite recipes is that it's made with all simple ingredients. You probably even have a few of them on hand already!

Check out everything you'll need to make baked spaghetti casserole:

• 16oz. cooked spaghetti
• 1 ½ lbs. ground beef
•  3 cups shredded cheese mix or mozzarella cheese
• 2 cans diced tomatoes
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. black pepper
• 1 tsp. dried basil
• ¼ cup butter
• 1 ½ cup breadcrumbs

Oh, and you can use a lot of these ingredients to make this fried spaghetti recipe as well. It's another fun twist on the classic spaghetti dinner, so I highly recommend giving that one a try next!

How To Make Baked Spaghetti Casserole

1. Prep work: Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) and grease an 8x8-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Cook the spaghetti for about 10 minutes in a pot of boiling water until it's al dente.

2. Cook the ground beef: Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet set over medium heat. Add the ground beef to it and cook, breaking the beef apart until it's browned and fully cooked.

3. Make the meat sauce: Add the two cans of diced tomatoes to the cooked beef and stir to combine. Season with salt, pepper, and dried basil, and give it another mix.

4. Assemble the casserole: Spread the cooked spaghetti in the prepared baking dish and evenly pour the meat sauce on top. Sprinkle all of the shredded cheese on top of that.

5. Make the bread crumbs: In a medium bowl, mix the bread crumbs and melted butter until they combine. Spread the bread crumbs evenly over the spaghetti.

6. Bake: Place the casserole dish in the oven and bake for about 30 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the breadcrumbs are golden brown. Let it rest for a few minutes, then garnish the casserole with basil or any herbs you want. Enjoy!

Tips To Make The Best Recipe

• Cook the pasta to al dente since it will continue to cook in the oven.
• Swap ground beef for Italian sausage, ground turkey, or ground chicken for the ground meat sauce.
• Substitute the canned diced tomatoes for spaghetti sauce, marinara sauce, or any type of pasta sauce you want.
• Make a creamy tomato sauce by mixing cream cheese or a sour cream and cream cheese mixture into the tomato sauce.
• Use Italian seasoning if you don't have dried basil.
• Use different types of cheese like shredded mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, or ricotta cheese.

How To Store Spaghetti Casserole

In the fridge: Store the leftover spaghetti casserole in an airtight container and store it in the fridge for about 4 days.

In the freezer: Allow the leftover spaghetti casserole to cool completely, then transfer it to a freezer-safe bag or airtight container and freeze it for about 3 months. 

Reheating: Put the baked spaghetti back in a casserole dish. Heat it up in the oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes or until the cheese melts and it's warmed through. Let the frozen casserole thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

FAQS About This Spaghetti Casserole Recipe

What pairs well with spaghetti casserole?

Spaghetti casserole is delicious served with these Olive Garden breadsticks, this La Scala chopped salad, zucchini pizza casserole, or these Italian chicken cutlets.

Can I make spaghetti casserole ahead of time?

Yes, this spaghetti casserole is the perfect make-ahead dinner. Just assemble the casserole as instructed and cover the unbaked casserole with a lid or tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for up to two days, and then add about 10-20 more minutes to the baking time.

What can I add to spaghetti to make it different?

You can add things like Italian sausage or meatballs and different herbs and spices like red pepper flakes or garlic powder. Or, you can stir cream cheese into the sauce to make a smooth, creamy tomato sauce. Topping the spaghetti with mozzarella cheese and buttery breadcrumbs, like in this recipe, is another great way to make spaghetti different.

More Casserole Recipes

• Dump and bake meatball casserole
• Cheesy baked tortellini casserole
• Zucchini tomato casserole
• Pepperoni pizza casserole
• Baked bean casserole
• Lasagna casserole
• Ravioli casserole