Creamy baked spaghetti is a delicious comfort food that combines the flavors of traditional spaghetti with a creamy, cheesy sauce, all baked to perfection. Here’s a simple recipe to make creamy baked spaghetti:
Ingredients:
- 8 ounces spaghetti
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage
- 1 (24-ounce) jar of your favorite marinara sauce
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
- Cook Spaghetti: Cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Prepare Sauce: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic, and sauté until softened and fragrant, about 2-3 minutes. Add the ground beef or Italian sausage to the skillet and cook until browned and cooked through, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Drain any excess fat if needed.
- Combine Ingredients: Stir in the marinara sauce and cooked spaghetti into the skillet with the meat mixture, mixing until everything is well combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add Creaminess: Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the sour cream until evenly incorporated into the spaghetti mixture.
- Transfer to Baking Dish: Transfer the creamy spaghetti mixture to the prepared baking dish, spreading it out evenly.
- Top with Cheese: Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese evenly over the top of the spaghetti mixture.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the edges are golden brown.
- Serve: Once baked, remove the dish from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired, then slice and serve.
Enjoy your creamy baked spaghetti hot out of the oven, and feel free to customize it with your favorite herbs, spices, or additional vegetables!
