Spaghetti Casserole With Ground Beef and Cheese

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 12/18/21
Spaghetti Casserole recipe

The Spruce
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 40 mins
Total: 55 mins
Servings: 4 to 6 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
440 Calories
25g Fat
21g Carbs
32g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 440
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 25g 32%
Saturated Fat 10g 48%
Cholesterol 89mg 30%
Sodium 666mg 29%
Total Carbohydrate 21g 8%
Dietary Fiber 3g 11%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 32g
Vitamin C 14mg 68%
Calcium 301mg 23%
Iron 4mg 20%
Potassium 639mg 14%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

If you're looking for a ground beef and pasta casserole, this beef and spaghetti bake is an excellent choice. It's a spaghetti and meat sauce combination baked to perfection with layers of mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Your family will thank you for this one.

The casserole is similar to the popular spaghetti pie, with its delicious Italian seasoned layers of pasta, cheese, and sauce. 

Ingredients

  • 1 medium onion, chopped

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

  • 2 clove garlic, minced

  • 1 pound ground chuck

  • 1 (14.5-ounce) can tomatoes, crushed or diced

  • 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce

  • 1 tablespoon parsley, chopped

  • 1 scant teaspoon sugar, optional

  • 1 (4-ounce) jar sliced mushrooms, optional

  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste

  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste

  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste

  • 8 ounces thin spaghetti

  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Spaghetti Casserole recipe ingredients
    The Spruce

  2. Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly grease a 2 1/2-quart shallow casserole dish or spray it with nonstick cooking spray. In a large skillet or sauté pan over medium-low heat, sauté onion in olive oil until onion is tender.

    Onions in skillet
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  3. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute longer. 

    Wooden spoon sauteing onions in skillet
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  4. Add ground beef, stirring to break up.

    Ground beef in skillet
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  5. Cook until meat is no longer pink; drain off excess fat.

    Cooked ground beef in skillet
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  6. Stir in tomatoes, tomato sauce, parsley, and sugar and mushrooms, if using, along with crushed pepper and oregano. Bring mixture to a simmer. Taste and add salt and pepper, as needed.

    tomatoes, tomato sauce, parsley, and sugar and mushrooms added to skillet
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  7. Continue simmering sauce for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

    Sauce simmering in skillet
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  8. Meanwhile, cook spaghetti in boiling salted water as directed on package.

    Spaghetti in pot
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  9. Drain well in a colander and then stir into meat mixture.

    Cooked poasta added to skillet
     The Spruce

  10. Place half of the spaghetti and meat mixture in a 2-quart casserole and sprinkle with half of the mozzarella cheese and half of the Parmesan cheese.

    Spaghetti Casserole in casserole dish
    The Spruce

  11. Repeat with remaining spaghetti mixture and cheeses.

    Spaghetti Casserole
    The Spruce

  12. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until casserole is hot and cheese has melted.

    Baked Spaghetti Casserole
    The Spruce

Tip

  • To make ahead, cook the meat sauce and let it cool. Put it in a container, cover, and refrigerate. The next day, heat the sauce, cook the spaghetti and assemble the casserole in the greased baking dish. Bake as directed above.

Variations

  • Add 1/2 cup of chopped green bell pepper to the skillet with the onions.
  • Replace the tomatoes, tomato sauce, parsley, sugar, crushed red pepper and oregano with a purchased seasoned spaghetti sauce. Pour over the ground beef, add salt and pepper, as needed, and simmer over low heat for about 20 minutes.