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Spaghetti Casserole

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This spaghetti casserole is an easy weeknight dish that also make a great freezer meal. Simple, kid friendly and delicious. Plus, it reheats well too! Upgrade classic spaghetti for this make ahead casserole!

 

Spaghetti Casserole - Main image for recipe of casserole dished out onto a plate.

 

I’m not really sure where to start in describing this spaghetti casserole dish.

It’s a bit like Spaghetti lasagna.

 

Spaghetti Casserole - ground beef and onion in a skilled - uncooked

 

Spaghetti layered with deliciousness and then served in a casserole style dish!

Absolutely simple, delicious and kid friendly!

 

Spaghetti Casserole - Cooked spaghetti with egg, butter and seasonings.

 

My biggest issue is coming up with new dishes my kids will actually eat.

My daughter is a VERY picky eater, while my son is willing to try just about anything you give him.

 

Spaghetti Casserole - cheese added to spaghetti mixture

 

What I can count on is that both my kid like spaghetti.

Depending on the day will determine if they like spaghetti sauce with their spaghetti or just plain spaghetti.

 

Spaghetti Casserole - Spaghetti placed into a 9x9 casserole dish

 

However with this Spaghetti Casserole they don’t have an option.

It’s sauce all the way.

 

Spaghetti Casserole - Cottage cheese on top of spaghetti. Ricotta can be used instead too!

 

Now some readers have mentioned that they like to layer this dish to spread the sauce over more of the noodles.

Noodles, cottage cheese then sauce and repeat for a second layer.

 

Spaghetti Casserole - Ground Beef mixture placed on top of cottage cheese

 

You certainly can do this.

And you can also substitute the cottage cheese for more of a traditional ricotta cheese.

 

Spaghetti Casserole - Cheese placed on top of ground beef mixture.

 

My family though are not fans of ricotta cheese.

Generally we all feel sick after eating anything with it so we naturally substitute cottage cheese for most ricotta cheese dishes and it’s delicious!

 

Spaghetti Casserole - Fresh out of the oven with melted cheese.

 

Not only is this this spaghetti casserole an easy weeknight meal, it’s also a great freezer meal.

Are you a freezer meal kind of person?

 

Spaghetti Casserole - side view of casserole on a plate with green beans and garlic bread.

 

If not, then I highly recommend giving them a try, especially if you have space in your freezer!

This meal is perfect for tossing into a casserole dish, with a lid of course, and then freezing (up to 1 month).

 

Spaghetti Casserole - casserole on plate with garlic bread and green beans. Photo taken from above.

 

Then it’s ready to go whenever you need it!

This casserole tasted great right out of the oven and went quite well with our easy garlic bread, which I highly recommend you try with this recipe!

 

Spaghetti Casserole - close up of casserole on dish which looks so yummy!

 

A nice green salad would also pair well with this dish too.

If you love Italian food, easy meals and meals that reheat well, then this is a dish for you!

 

Spaghetti Casserole - fork full of casserole ready to be eaten!

 

My family loved this and I especially loved how simple it was to make!

Whip up a double batch so that you can eat one and freeze one for later!

 

Yield: 6 Servings

Spaghetti Casserole

Spaghetti Casserole - close up of casserole on dish
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 (8 ounce) package spaghetti
  • 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
  • 1 small white or yellow onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced, or 1 teaspoons minced garlic or 2 teaspoons garlic paste
  • 1 (24 ounce) spaghetti sauce, any brand
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon oregano
  • 2 Tablespoons butter
  • 1/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 egg, well beaten
  • 8 ounce cottage cheese
  • 4 ounces mozzarella cheese

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350*F

Break spaghetti into thirds and put into large pot. Cook as directed.

While spaghetti is cooking, in a medium skilled, cook ground beef, onion and garlic until beef is cooked through and onion is translucent.

Once beef is cooked, add spaghetti sauce, sugar and oregano. Cook for additional 5 minutes for flavors to meld. Set aside.

When spaghetti done cooking, drain.

Add butter, Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and egg to cooked spaghetti. Mix well.

Press spaghetti mixture into a 9x9 square pan.

Top spaghetti mixture with cottage cheese.

Spoon ground beef mixture over cottage cheese.

Bake for 20 minutes.

Remove from oven top with mozzarella cheese and bake for additional 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Remove from oven and serve immediately.

Notes

This meal also works well as a freezer meal!

Prepare up until baking. Freeze. When ready to eat, allow to thaw in fridge for 24 hours then bake at 350*F for 30 minutes, add cheese and bake for additional 10 minutes.

Originally Posted: December 8, 2015

Text & Images Updated: June 30, 2018

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mary

Sunday 1st of September 2019

can you leave out the egg? I have an allergy

Janelle

Wednesday 26th of August 2020

Yes. However adding the egg helps hold it all together. But if you aren't into eggs, then leave it out.

Laura

Wednesday 1st of August 2018

We REALLY enjoyed this yummy dinner! And there's leftover to freeze for another time :) I may mix the cottage cheese in with the pasta when I make it again. Thank you for sharing this :)

Janelle

Monday 6th of August 2018

So glad you enjoyed this! Mixing in the cottage cheese is a great idea!

Sandy H.

Tuesday 19th of June 2018

Tried this tonight. "Awesome". Thought it would be dry, but was great. Tweeked some, used ricotta cheese. Five stars.

Janelle

Tuesday 5th of March 2019

Sandy, you can't go wrong with adding ricotta cheese! That sounds amazing! So glad this recipe was a success! Thank you for your comment and I hope you find other recipes on Nums the Word!

Adelaide

Wednesday 11th of October 2017

This dish was one of my dad's favourite! It's a dish that is made often in southern Italy. It's almost like lasagna. I cook the spaghetti long as is. To make it compact I beat two eggs and mix in the cooked spaghetti already mixed with the sauce making sure to not cook the eggs. I layer it like lasagna . The sauce is the same as lasagna sauce with ground meat. I do not use cottage or ricotta cheese. Every layer has the meat sauce , thin slices of hard boiled eggs , grated parmigiano and mozzarella.

Janelle

Saturday 4th of November 2017

Thank you Adalaide for your comment and suggestions!

Betty

Tuesday 4th of July 2017

When I make this I'm gonna do it in layers bout like u would lasagna, cause in the pic dI dnt look like it was very much sauce through it , so thank you for the recipe, but I'll try it my way

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