Description
This Baked Spaghetti with Cream Cheese features a rich flavor profile with ground beef, creamy cheese, and savory marinara. Perfect for a quick dinner that satisfies everyone!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2–3 teaspoons olive oil for pasta
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1½ teaspoons italian seasoning divided
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 3 cups jarred marinara sauce
- ½ pound spaghetti noodles
- 8 ounces block style cream cheese, cubed
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ cup finely shredded parmesan cheese
- 8 ounces block whole-milk mozzarella cheese, shredded
- Fresh parsley, finely chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick oil spray.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add olive oil, ground beef, ½ teaspoon italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Cook until no pink remains, about 5-6 minutes. Drain excess fat.
- Pour the marinara sauce into the skillet with the cooked beef, stir, and simmer on low for 10 minutes while the pasta cooks. Remove from heat.
- In a pot of boiling salted water, cook spaghetti noodles for 9-11 minutes until al dente. Drain the pasta and add it to a bowl with cream cheese, remaining italian seasoning, and garlic powder. Mix well, adding olive oil if needed to prevent sticking.
- Spread 1 cup of meat sauce in the prepared baking dish, then layer the spaghetti evenly on top and cover with the remaining sauce.
- Sprinkle parmesan and mozzarella cheese over the top. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 15 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake for another 15 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly. Let cool for 5 minutes before garnishing with fresh parsley.
Notes
You can substitute ground turkey for a lighter version of this dish.
For a bit of spice, consider adding red pepper flakes to the meat sauce.
Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature for easier mixing.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 525
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 1100mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 80mg