Description
Comforting Southern baked spaghetti casserole combines hearty pasta with rich cheese and savory meat layers. Creamy textures and bold flavors make this dish a perfect centerpiece for family gatherings you’ll want to savor again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef
- 12 ounces (340 grams) spaghetti, cooked
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Sauce and Seasonings:
- 1 can (14.5 ounces/411 grams) diced tomatoes
- 1 can (8 ounces/227 grams) tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 350F (175C) for optimal cooking temperature.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium flame, sautéing ground beef with chopped onion and bell pepper until meat browns and vegetables soften, approximately 7-8 minutes.
- Pour diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and seasonings into the skillet, blending thoroughly. Allow mixture to simmer and develop flavors for 5 minutes.
- Prepare a casserole dish with non-stick spray, creating alternating layers starting with cooked spaghetti as the base.
- Distribute sour cream evenly across the first spaghetti layer, then cover with meat sauce. Repeat the layering process to ensure balanced distribution of ingredients.
- Generously sprinkle shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheeses across the top layer, creating a complete cheese coverage.
- Transfer casserole to preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until cheese transforms into a golden, bubbling surface.
- Remove from oven and allow casserole to rest for 5-7 minutes, enabling flavors to settle and making serving easier.
Notes
- Customize the meat by swapping ground beef with ground turkey or chicken for a leaner protein option.
- Boost vegetable content by adding zucchini, spinach, or mushrooms to the meat sauce for extra nutrition.
- Make it gluten-free by using gluten-free spaghetti or replacing pasta with zucchini noodles for a low-carb alternative.
- Prepare the casserole ahead of time by assembling and refrigerating up to 24 hours before baking, which helps develop richer flavors.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 436 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg