Go Back

The Best Spaghetti Casserole

This easy spaghetti casserole dish with ground beef is deliciously rich, hearty, and cheesy.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course lunch/dinner
Cuisine Italian
Servings 12 people
Calories 8539 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 9x13 inch Baking Dish
  • 1 Large Pot For boiling spaghetti
  • 1 Large, High-Sided Skillet For browning beef and mixing sauce
  • 1 Wooden Spoon For breaking up ground meat
  • 1 Aluminum Foil For covering casserole during baking

Ingredients
  

Main

  • cooking spray
  • 12 ounces uncooked spaghetti
  • 1 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
  • 1 8 ounce container sour cream
  • 2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese divided
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 ½ pounds ground sirloin
  • ½ cup chopped yellow onion
  • 2 teaspoons finely chopped garlic
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 24 ounce jars spaghetti or marinara sauce
  • ¼ cup Parmesan cheese

Instructions
 

  • Gather all ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray; set aside. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Boil spaghetti in generously salted water until cooked through but still firm to the bite, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and set aside. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • While pasta cooks, stir cream cheese, sour cream, and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese together until combined; set aside. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Heat olive oil in a large high-sided skillet over medium-high heat. Add beef in large chunks and cook, undisturbed, until lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Add onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Continue to cook, breaking up meat into smaller pieces with a wooden spoon and stirring occasionally, until almost cooked through, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and tilt the pan to pool grease onto one side, trying to keep the beef mixture on the other. Use a large spoon to remove grease; discard grease once cooled. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Add marinara to beef mixture in skillet; stir until combined. Add reserved spaghetti. Fold and stir until well coated in sauce. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Transfer ½ of the pasta mixture to prepared baking dish. Spread sour cream mixture evenly over pasta mixture in baking dish, then top with remaining pasta mixture. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Sprinkle remaining 1 cup mozzarella evenly over spaghetti mixture. Cover loosely with aluminum foil and place baking dish on a baking sheet.  Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Bake in preheated oven until cheese has melted, about 30 minutes. Remove aluminum foil and sprinkle top with Parmesan cheese. Increase oven temperature to broil.  Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Broil until cheese has started to turn golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley and serve. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Enjoy! Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Notes

Ensure spaghetti is cooked al dente as it will continue to cook in the oven; overcooked pasta will result in a mushy texture. For richer flavor, consider using an 80/20 ground beef instead of sirloin and allow the onions to caramelize slightly before adding garlic. Always drain excess fat from the beef to prevent a greasy casserole. To elevate the sauce, a splash of red wine can be deglazed into the skillet after browning the meat. Finish with fresh chopped parsley or basil after broiling for a vibrant aroma and appearance. Keep a close eye on the broiler to achieve golden-brown cheese without burning.