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Baked Spaghetti Casserole Recipe
If your family loves spaghetti, then get ready for a baked spaghetti casserole recipe that's part comfort food and part one-pan convenience meal! This is a kicked up version of your old favorite with the addition of some different yummy cheeses and whole wheat breadcrumbs on top.
I remember when my 7-year-old tried to help herself to thirds of this dish before I told her "no" because she was going to give herself a tummy ache! Serve this with a big green salad, and you'll have a healthy weeknight crowd pleaser. Also, check out this breakfast casserole to add some delightful Mexican flavor to your busy mornings!
Whole Wheat Pasta Bake
As per usual, we're taking a comfort food favorite and making a few simple swaps so you can enjoy it as a nutritious weeknight meal that's easy and satisfying! Here, it's all about the whole wheat.
Regular spaghetti makes for a good pasta night, but lacks fiber and nutrients that its whole wheat counterpart brings to the table. On top of that, whole wheat breadcrumbs add a crave-able 'crunch' that seals the deal with this spaghetti casserole bake that might just become your family's next favorite. (Also, whole wheat noodles work well in lasagnas too!)
Can you Freeze Baked Spaghetti Casseroles?
You absolutely can! Cooked spaghetti freezes easily, and while it does take a little while to heat up it's most certainly worth the wait. If you're looking to make this ahead of time, or just get the most out of your leftovers, freezing this spaghetti casserole is definitely an option. Making freezer meals ahead of time can have a surprising impact on your budget and your time!
For this spaghetti casserole bake, we'd recommend freezing it the same way whether you're prepping ahead of time, or saving your leftovers. To do so, transfer the fully cooled casserole to a large freezer container or freezer bag. We recommend reheating and eating this casserole sometime in the next 2 months if kept fully frozen for the best flavor and texture, but you can go longer if you wish.
How to Reheat Frozen Spaghetti Casseroles
You can throw it in the oven from frozen! Don't let it cool at room temperature, since you don't want the ground beef sitting at room temperature for any longer than necessary. Here's how to reheat frozen spaghetti casseroles:
- Preheat oven to 375 Fahrenheit
- Place the frozen baked spaghetti in the oven with an aluminum foil cover
- Let heat for 40 minutes
- Remove foil and heat for an additional 10 minutes, or until cheese is remelted and bubbling up
How to Make Baked Spaghetti Recipe
Check out our recipe for this whole wheat baked spaghetti with ricotta below! All it takes is some cooked noodles and a baking dish to create this quick and easy cheesy baked spaghetti for yourself.
Be sure to try this Chicken Casserole or this Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo too! For leftovers, make this Fried Spaghetti.
Baked Spaghetti Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ pound whole-wheat spaghetti
- 2 eggs
- ¾ cup parmesan cheese (grated and divided)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (+ extra for greasing the casserole dish)
- ½ onion (peeled and diced)
- ½ green bell pepper (deseeded and diced)
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 clove garlic (minced)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- crushed red pepper (to taste (a few firm shakes for us))
- 1 - 26 oz pasta sauce (or 3 cups homemade (link in notes))
- ¾ cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese (grated)
- ¼ cup whole-wheat breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Brush a rectangular baking dish with olive oil and set aside.
- Cook the spaghetti noodles al dente, drain, and then mix with the eggs and ½ cup of the Parmesan cheese. Put in the bottom of the casserole dish.
- In a large saute pan over medium heat, warm the olive oil. Add the onion and bell pepper and cook until soft, but not brown, about 5 minutes.
- Add the beef to the pan and break up the meat with a spatula. Cook until the beef is brown all the way through. Drain and discard the fat (I find putting a lid on the pan helps with this job).
- Add the garlic, salt, and red pepper, and cook for 1 more minute before adding the red sauce to pan. Heat for an additional few minutes.
- Pour the meat/sauce mixture on top of the noodles in the casserole dish. Top with dollops of ricotta cheese, grated mozzarella, breadcrumbs, and remaining ¼ cup Parmesan cheese. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until golden brown on top. Serve warm and enjoy.
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