Spaghetti Casserole

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Pasta, pasta, pasta! If you like spaghetti, and you like lasagna – you will absolutely love this casserole. Spaghetti meets lasagna for a very happy ending. This has been a favorite with my family for many years, and it makes a great potluck dish.

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Spaghetti casserole is fusion-style comfort food at its best! Whether preparing for a casual family dinner or large gathering, its sure to satisfy a hungry crowd.

(It’s even a great make ahead casserole recipe, so you definitely want to add this to your weekly meal plan!)

Let’s start with the meat – I like to use a combination of ground beef and hot pork sausage to give extra flavor and just a little heat. For the sauce the best shortcut is to use jarred spaghetti sauce or marinara sauce, but you can certainly use your own homemade sauce as well. The filling is simple: sour cream for richness, cottage cheese for texture, and parmesan for that distinctive sharp, nutty flavor. And the pasta!

Make this easy noodle casserole recipe in just over an hour, and watch it disappear in minutes!

Recipe Ingredients

Spaghetti. Regular spaghetti is best, or even linguine if you prefer. While I use mostly thin spaghetti for regular meat sauce, you need something more substantial for this.

Pork sausage and ground beef. The combination of both meats creates the most juicy, savory, meaty and delicious flavor.

Spaghetti sauce. Use store bought or try our easy Homemade Pasta Sauce recipe.

Sour cream. Whole or low fat greek yogurt can also be used.

Cottage cheese. Creates the most soft, creamy, and irresistible casserole that helps it to stay firm when you slice.

Parmesan cheese. Mixed into the casserole filling, and sprinkled on top before baking for extra cheesy browned goodness.

How to Make Baked Spaghetti Casserole

Combining the casserole filling in a large bowl.

Preheat the oven to 375F. Cook your pasta to al dente and drain. Brown the ground beef and stir in the sauce; let it simmer for a few minutes.
Stir together your filling, and it’s time to layer.

Adding filling to the cooked spaghetti noodles in a large dish.

Spreading the cheese mixture filling on top of the cooked pasta noodles.

In your 9 x 13 baking dish place half of the spaghetti evenly on the bottom. Drop half of the filling by spoonfuls over the spaghetti and gently spread it to cover. Spoon half of the sauce over the filling and smooth it evenly. Repeat layers spaghetti, cheese filling and the remaining sauce. Top with more grated parmesan and pop it in the oven.

Meat mixture topped with grated parmesan.

Bake at 375 for 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and let it cool for at least 5 minutes before serving.

It’s best to cut the casserole into “squares” and lift each out carefully onto your plate. You can sprinkle with more parmesan cheese if you’d like, but you probably won’t need it.

Enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

What pairs well with spaghetti?

Serve the casserole hot alongside a cool and crisp simple green salad, steakhouse salad, or tossed salad. And we love to include toasted garlic bread on the table, too!

Can you make pasta bake ahead of time?

Yes, this is a terrific recipe to make ahead! Assemble the casserole and do not bake. Cover with aluminum foil and keep in the fridge for up to a day.

Or, for longer storage, you can freeze the spaghetti casserole. Layer the ingredients into a freezer-safe baking pan (disposable aluminum pans work very well) and double wrap the pan in two layers of foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before baking according to the recipe steps.

How long is spaghetti casserole good for?

Leftovers will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Freeze for up to 3 months.

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