This southern baked spaghetti recipe is so delicious and filled with some amazing seasonings giving. This recipe has a ton of mouth-watering flavor. I’ve made this Southern baked spaghetti recipe several times and I would have to say this is the best-baked spaghetti I have ever tasted. If you’re looking for a delicious, family-friendly meal that everyone will enjoy, look no further than this baked spaghetti has the perfect blend of cheese and Walmart pasta, and it’s sure to become a staple of your weekly menu. Plus, it’s easy to make. Let’s get started!
Why You Should Make This Southern Baked Spaghetti
Baked spaghetti is a classic Italian dish that combines cooked creole spaghetti noodles with a tomato-based sauce and melted cheese. It’s usually made with marinara sauce but can also be made with meat sauce or Alfredo sauce. Once all the ingredients are combined, they’re topped off with more cheese and then baked in the oven until the cheese is melted and bubbly. This southern baked spaghetti recipe can be paired well with my cornbread pudding.
Ingredients For Baked Spaghetti
If you’ve never tried southern baked spaghetti before, now is the time! This classic Italian dish offers delicious flavor combinations plus versatility so that you can switch up your ingredients depending on what you have on hand or what type of flavor profile you’re looking for.
- Spaghetti Noodles
- Ground Beef
- Sweet Onion
- Italian Seasoning
- Garlic Powder
- Seasoning Salt
- Granulated Sugar
- Olive Oil
- Ground Black Pepper
- Shredded Cheese
- Mozzarella Cheese
How To Make Southern Baked Spaghetti
Making this loaded Southern baked spaghetti is surprisingly easy! All you need to do is cook your favorite type of spaghetti noodles to al dente according to package directions. Then, mix together your favorite pasta sauce (marinara, Alfredo, or meat) with cooked ground beef or sausage if desired. Add in some seasonings like salt, pepper, oregano, basil, garlic powder—anything you like! Finally, combine the cooked noodles with the tomato-based sauce in a large bowl and pour into an oven safe dish. Top with grated cheese and bake for about 30 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit until golden brown on top.
- Cook your noodles until Al dente and set to the side
- Turn stove on medium-high
- In a pan add in add in 1 tsp of olive oil
- Once the olive oil begins to get hot add in your chopped onions
- Once the onions become slightly brown add in your ground beef
- Take a spatula and began separating the ground beef
- Allow to cook until the ground beef begins to brown
- Next add in your seasonings (seasoning salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning)
- Stir the seasonings into the ground beef well
- Add in your spaghetti sauce and stir.
- Sprinkle your sugar in the meat sauce
- Allow the sauce to cook in for about 10 minutes
- Remove the meat sauce from the stove
- In a baking dish add your meat sauce to the bottom of the pan
- Next add about a handful of spaghetti to the dish
- Sprinkle some cheese over the noodles
- Add some of your meat over the cheese
- Continue to repeat these steps until you have no more of the meat sauce, noodles and cheese. Make sure there is enough cheese to sprinkle over the top
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees
- Place aluminum foil on top of the spaghetti and place into the oven and allow to bake for about 35 minutes
- Take the baked spaghetti out of the oven and remove aluminum foil then place back into the oven for about 15 minutes or until the top is golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and enjoy
Variations For Southern Baked Spaghetti
Baked spaghetti is a classic comfort food that’s beloved the world over. But sometimes, you need something different in your life! If you’re looking for ways to switch up your next baked spaghetti dish, then look no further. Read on for some delicious alternatives that are bound to make you excited about dinner again.
Lasagna Roll-Ups
Take your favorite lasagna recipe and roll it up instead of layering it! Lasagna roll-ups are like mini versions of your favorite lasagna dish but rolled up in a neat package. Layer noodles with ricotta cheese and your favorite sauce, then roll them up and bake until golden brown. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and serve with a side salad for an easy weeknight meal.
Vegetarian Substitutes
For vegetarians out there looking for a meatless version of this classic dish, try subbing in mushrooms, bell peppers, and onions for the ground beef. These vegetables taste great combined with the tomato sauce and cheese and provide plenty of flavor without any meat. If you want to add some protein to your meal, consider adding chickpeas or lentils as well. For extra texture, top with crunchy breadcrumbs before baking.
Healthier Alternatives
Baked spaghetti calories…. If you’re looking to make this dish healthier while still keeping it delicious, try using whole wheat pasta or gluten free noodles Walmart instead of regular white pasta. You could also swap out the ground beef for ground turkey or chicken breast to cut down on fat content. To add more vegetables into the mix, throw in some zucchini or spinach as well. Adding Greek yogurt instead of cream cheese will give it a creamier taste without as many calories. Finally, top off your dish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese instead of store-bought shredded cheese for an extra burst of flavor.
Gluten-Free
Gluten-Free options for those who are following a gluten-free diet, there are lots of ways to make sure this meal can be enjoyed too! Start by swapping out the regular pasta for gluten-free pasta such as quinoa or brown rice noodles. To replace the cream cheese, use ricotta cheese instead – it will still give you that creamy texture but without any gluten! Finally, top off your dish with gluten-free breadcrumbs or crushed nuts such as almonds or walnuts to add some crunchiness back into your meal.
Equipment For Southern Baked Spaghetti
The first piece of equipment you will need to make southern baked spaghetti is a 9×13 inch baking dish. This size baking dish is ideal for making large batches of pasta dishes like lasagna and macaroni and cheese, as well as southern baked spaghetti. If you don’t have one this size on hand, you can also buy one from your local store or online for a reasonable price.
Another piece of equipment that you will need is a large skillet. A large skillet with high sides is perfect for cooking up the ground beef and sausage mixture used in the recipe. You can use any type of skillet, from stainless steel to nonstick. Make sure it’s big enough so that all the ingredients fit comfortably inside without overcrowding the pan.
Finally, you will also need an oven-safe spoon for stirring and serving your southern baked spaghetti. An oven-safe spoon ensures that the handle won’t melt when stirred into hot liquid or placed in an oven to bake. It also makes it easier to stir in all those delicious ingredients without burning your hands on hot surfaces!
Storage For Southern Baked Spaghetti
If you plan on storing your leftover baked spaghetti for a few days, the most important thing to remember is to use an airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator. A good rule of thumb is to make sure that food is stored away at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below—that goes for all dishes, not just pasta. If your kitchen isn’t cool enough, you should consider investing in a mini fridge for food storage. It will help keep things like sauces and other ingredients fresher for longer and also keeps them far away from pesky pests like ants.
Freezing Your Baked Spaghetti
One of the best ways to store your leftover baked spaghetti is by freezing it. This way, it lasts much longer and is always ready when you need a quick dinner solution. To freeze spaghetti properly, let it cool completely before transferring it into an airtight container or freezer-safe bag. To reheat frozen spaghetti, place the frozen dish in an oven-safe dish with a lid and heat at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until warmed through (approximately 25 minutes). Be sure to stir occasionally during cooking time as well!
Reheating Tips
It’s also important to remember that when reheating any type of pasta dish—like baked spaghetti—it needs to be done slowly over low heat in order for the flavors to melt together properly without burning or drying out too quickly. If you prefer, microwaveable containers are available which work great for pre-packaged meals like this one! Just be sure not to leave your pasta in there too long; otherwise, it can get rubbery if overcooked.
More Recipes
The Best Baked Spaghetti
Ingredients
- 1 16 ounce Spaghetti noodles
- 1 Lb Ground beef
- 1 Medium Sweet onion
- 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1 Tbsp Garlic powder
- 1 Tbsp Seasoning salt
- 1 Tsp Olive oil
- 1/2 Tbsp Ground black pepper
- 1 Cup Shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 Cup Sharp shredded cheese
- 1/2 Tbsp Granulated Sugar
Instructions
- Cook your noodles until Al dente and set to the side
- Turn stove on medium-high
- In a pan add in add in 1 tsp of olive oil
- Once the olive oil begin to get hot add in your chopped onions
- once the onions become slightly brown add in your ground beef
- Take a spatula and began separating the ground beef
- Allow to cook until the ground beef begins to brown
- Next add in your seasonings(seasoning salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning)
- Stir the seasonings into the ground beef well
- Add in your spaghetti sauce and stir.
- Sprinkle your sugar in the meat sauce
- Allow the sauce to cook in for about 10 minutes
- Remove the meat sauce from the stove
- In a baking dish add your meat sauce to the bottom of the pan
- Next add about a handful of spaghetti to the dish
- Sprinkle some cheese over the noodles
- Add some of your meat over the cheese
- Continue to repeat these steps until you have no more of the meat sauce, noodles and cheese. Make sure there is enough cheese to sprinkle over the top
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees
- Place aluminum foil on top of the spaghetti and place into the oven and allow to bake for about 35 minutes
- Take the baked spaghetti out of the oven and remove aluminum foil then place back into the oven for about 15 minutes or until the top is golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and enjoy
