Baked Cream Cheese Spaghetti: A Delicious Twist on a Classic Dish
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. spaghetti noodles
- 1 jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce
- 2 lb. ground beef
- 8 oz. cream cheese
- 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
- 2 tsp. minced garlic
- 1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese
- ⅓ cup Parmesan cheese
Instructions:
- Preheat the Oven: Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cook the Spaghetti: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti noodles according to the package instructions until they are al dente. Drain the noodles well, and return them to the pot. Add the cream cheese to the hot noodles and stir until the cheese is fully melted and evenly combined with the spaghetti.
- Prepare the Meat Sauce: While the spaghetti is cooking, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and season it with salt and pepper to taste. Cook the beef until it is fully browned, breaking it up into small pieces as it cooks. Once browned, drain any excess fat from the skillet.
- Enhance the Flavor: Stir in the minced garlic and Italian seasoning with the cooked beef. Allow the mixture to cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until the garlic is fragrant. Pour the spaghetti sauce into the skillet, stirring to combine. Let the sauce simmer on low heat for about 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.
- Assemble the Dish: Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Spread a thin layer of the meat sauce at the bottom of the dish. Place the spaghetti on top of this layer, ensuring it is spread out evenly. Then, pour the remaining meat sauce over the spaghetti, spreading it out so it covers the pasta completely.
- Add the Cheese: Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese evenly over the top of the dish.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden brown on top.
- Serve: Remove the baked spaghetti from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy your creamy, cheesy, and flavorful baked spaghetti with a side salad or garlic bread for a complete meal.
This Baked Cream Cheese Spaghetti is a comforting and hearty dish that’s sure to become a family favorite. The cream cheese adds a rich, velvety texture to the pasta, while the mozzarella and Parmesan create a deliciously cheesy crust on top. Perfect for a weeknight dinner or a potluck, this dish is both easy to make and irresistibly satisfying.
