Easy Southern Baked Spaghetti
Easy Southern baked spaghetti is a hearty & easy spaghetti dish that can be served any night of the week. Perfect for anything from Sunday dinners, picnics, to potlucks, this easy pasta recipe is comfort food at its finest. Layers of noodles, sauce, and cheese...it doesn't get any better. The best part is your kitchen will smell amazing as it cooks.
Servings 8 servings
Ingredients
- 16 ounces spaghetti noodles
- 24 ounces marinara or pasta sauce
- 1 pound ground beef or sausage
- 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 cups cottage cheese
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 eggs
- 2 minced garlic cloves
- 1/2 cup onion, diced
- 4 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish generously with cooking spray.
- Cook the spaghetti noodles until al dente. Drain the noodles. In a large bowl, toss the cooked noodles with the Parmesan cheese, melted butter, and whisked eggs. Mix until well combined.
- In a large skillet, cook the ground beef or sausage over medium heat until browned. Add the chopped onion and garlic, and cook an additional 2-3 minutes. Stir in the marinara sauce and seasonings. Simmer for about 10 minutes.
- In the greased baking dish, spread half of the prepared spaghetti noodles, then half of the cottage cheese, then half of meat sauce, and finally half of the shredded mozzarella cheese. Repeat layer, ending with the mozzarella cheese.
- Cover the baking dish loosely with foil and bake 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Let cool for a few minutes before serving.