Baked Cream Cheese Spaghetti

A creamy, cheesy pasta bake that’s as comforting as it is easy to make! Perfect for busy weeknights or potluck gatherings.

 Ingredients:

12 oz spaghetti, cooked and drained

1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage

1 jar (24 oz) marinara or pasta sauce

1/2 cup onion, finely diced

2 garlic cloves, minced

8 oz cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup sour cream

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Salt and pepper, to taste

Fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)

 Directions:

1 Preheat the oven:

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.

2 Cook the meat sauce:

In a large skillet, cook the ground beef or sausage with diced onion over medium heat until browned. Add minced garlic and cook for another minute. Stir in the marinara sauce, season with salt and pepper, and simmer for 5 minutes.

3 Prepare the cream cheese mixture:

In a mixing bowl, combine softened cream cheese and sour cream until smooth. Add a pinch of salt and pepper.

4 Assemble the casserole:

Toss the cooked spaghetti with the cream cheese mixture until evenly coated. Spread half of the pasta in the prepared baking dish.

Layer half of the meat sauce over the pasta, then sprinkle with half of the mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.

Repeat with the remaining pasta, meat sauce, and cheeses.

5 Bake:

Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

6 Serve:

Garnish with fresh parsley and serve hot with a side of garlic bread or a crisp green salad.

Pro Tip: Use Italian seasoning or red pepper flakes in the meat sauce for extra flavor. Leftovers reheat beautifully for a quick next-day meal!