Can I make this Baked Spaghetti Recipe ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the meat sauce and ricotta filling up to two days in advance. Store them separately in the refrigerator and assemble the casserole just before baking to prevent the noodles from becoming soggy.

How do I store leftover baked spaghetti?

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave for 2-3 minutes or warm the entire dish in a 350°F oven covered with foil for 20 minutes.

Can I freeze this dish?

Absolutely. You can freeze either unbaked or fully baked portions for up to three months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating to preserve the texture of the pasta and cheese.

What type of baking dish should I use?

A deep 9x13 baking dish is highly recommended to prevent the sauce from overflowing during the long baking process, as the mixture will bubble and expand slightly in the oven.

Can I substitute the ground beef?

Yes, you can easily swap the ground beef for ground turkey to create a leaner version without sacrificing the rich, savory flavor profile, especially when combined with Italian sausage.

Baked Spaghetti Recipe

Name: Baked Spaghetti Recipe
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 2 h
Total time: 2 h 45 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil; 1 lb ground beef (or ground turkey); 1 lb Italian sausage; 1 cup chopped onions; ½ cup chopped green peppers; Seasoned salt (to taste); 1/4 tsp Black pepper (to taste); 1 tbsp minced garlic; 42 oz crushed tomatoes; 29 oz tomato sauce; 2 tbsp red wine; ¼ cup chicken stock; 1 tbsp Italian seasoning; 2 tbsp + 1 teaspoon granulated sugar; ⅛ tsp crushed red pepper flakes; 15 oz ricotta cheese; 1 large egg; 1 ½ tsp basil (chopped); ¼ cup freshly shredded Parmesan cheese; ½ tsp salt; 16 ounces spaghetti; 3 – 4 cups mozzarella or Italian blend shredded cheese; Parsley for garnish

Baked Spaghetti Recipe

Print Recipe

Baked Spaghetti made with meat sauce, ricotta filling, spaghetti noodles, and shredded mozzarella baked in layers until hot and bubbly.

Author: Maya Collins
Prep Time: 30 mins
Cook Time: 120 mins
Total Time: 165 mins
Yield: 16 servings 1x
Method: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian, soul food, Southern

Ingredients

Scale

3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 lb ground beef (or ground turkey)
1 lb Italian sausage
1 cup chopped onions
½ cup chopped green peppers
Seasoned salt (to taste)
1/4 tsp Black pepper (to taste)
1 tbsp minced garlic
42 oz crushed tomatoes
29 oz tomato sauce
2 tbsp red wine
¼ cup chicken stock
1 tbsp Italian seasoning
2 tbsp + 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
⅛ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
15 oz ricotta cheese
1 large egg
1 ½ tsp basil (chopped)
¼ cup freshly shredded Parmesan cheese
½ tsp salt
16 ounces spaghetti
3 – 4 cups mozzarella or Italian blend shredded cheese
Parsley for garnish

Instructions

Add olive oil to large pot over medium high heat on stove.
Add ground beef, Italian sausage, onion, green pepper and salt and pepper. Brown until cooked.
Next add garlic and cook for 1 minute.
Then add in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, red wine, chicken stock, Italian seasoning, sugar, and red pepper flakes. Continue to simmer until sauce has thickened about 30-40 minutes.
Combine ricotta cheese, egg, basil, parmesan cheese and salt in a large bowl and mix until combined.
Set aside.
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to boil then add spaghetti and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente. Don’t cook all the way. Drain noodles and rinse with cold water. Add sauce to spaghetti and toss to combine then set sauced spaghetti aside.
Preheat oven to 375.
Begin layering by adding ⅓ of sauced spaghetti to bottom of the 9×13 deep baking dish.
Next spread with half of ricotta filling then top with a large amount of mozzarella cheese..
Repeat steps with layering of spaghetti then the remaining half of ricotta cheese and mozzarella.
Finally add final layer of spaghetti then top with shredded cheese.
Bake for 35-45 minutes or until golden brown and cheese is bubbly and delicious. Cool for 10-15 minutes, sprinkle with parsley and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 446 kcal
Sugar: 8 g
Fat: 24 g
Carbohydrates: 35 g
Protein: 24 g

Find it online: https://recipenly.com/baked-spaghetti/