Description
A rich and creamy baked spaghetti casserole with smooth cream cheese, melted mozzarella, and a flavorful tomato sauce—comfort food elevated with a cheesy twist.
Ingredients
8 oz spaghetti
4 oz cream cheese, softened
2 cups marinara sauce
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
Salt and pepper to taste
Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Stir in the marinara sauce and Italian seasoning, then let it simmer for 5 minutes.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooked spaghetti, softened cream cheese, and marinara sauce mixture. Mix well until the cream cheese is evenly incorporated.
- Transfer the spaghetti mixture into a greased baking dish.
- Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan evenly over the top.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and the edges turn slightly golden.
- Garnish with fresh basil or parsley if desired. Serve warm.
Notes
For a heartier meal, add cooked ground beef or Italian sausage to the sauce.
For a vegetarian option, sauté mushrooms or bell peppers with garlic before adding marinara sauce.
Extra mozzarella can be added inside the pasta mixture for more cheesiness.
Use fresh herbs like oregano or thyme instead of dried Italian seasoning for a fresh flavor.
Leftovers keep well in the fridge up to 3 days; reheat covered with foil at 350°F for 15 minutes or microwave with a splash of water.
Substitute cream cheese with ricotta or mascarpone if needed.
To make it less rich, use part-skim mozzarella and reduce or replace cream cheese with low-fat versions.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 52 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
