Spaghetti Casserole With Ground Beef and Cheese

Written by
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Diana Rattray
Updated 10/28/19
Spaghetti Casserole recipe

The Spruce
  • Total: 55 mins
  • Prep: 15 mins
  • Cook: 40 mins
  • Yield: 4 to 6 servings
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
427 Calories
20g Fat
29g Carbs
34g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6 servings
Amount per serving
Calories 427
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 20g 25%
Saturated Fat 8g 38%
Cholesterol 87mg 29%
Sodium 439mg 19%
Total Carbohydrate 29g 11%
Dietary Fiber 4g 13%
Protein 34g
Calcium 228mg 18%
*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 cloves garlic ( minced)
  • 1 pound ground beef (ground chuck)
  • 1 (14 1/2-ounces) can tomatoes (crushed or diced)
  • 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 1 tablespoon parsley (chopped)
  • Optional: 1 scant teaspoon granulated sugar
  • Optional: 1 (4-ounce) jar sliced mushrooms
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (or to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)
  • 8 ounces thin spaghetti
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
  • 2 cups mozzarella cheese (shredded)

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Spaghetti Casserole recipe ingredients
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  2. Heat the oven to 350 F. Lightly grease a 2 1/2-quart shallow casserole dish or spray it with nonstick cooking spray. 

    Casserole dish
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  3. In a large skillet or sauté pan over medium-low heat, sauté the onion in olive oil until onion is tender.

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

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

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

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

    tomatoes, tomato sauce, parsley, and sugar and mushrooms added to skillet
    The Spruce

  8. Continue simmering the sauce for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

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

    Spaghetti in pot
    The Spruce 

  10. Drain well in a colander and then stir it into the meat mixture.

    Cooked poasta added to skillet
     The Spruce

  11. 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

  12. Repeat with remaining spaghetti mixture and cheeses.

    Spaghetti Casserole
    The Spruce

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

    Baked Spaghetti Casserole
    The Spruce

  14. Serve and enjoy!

Tips

  • 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.

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