My sister-in-law took one bite and came running over to me asking for this recipe
In the realm of comfort food, few dishes rival the satisfying goodness of a hearty spaghetti bake. Adding a creamy twist to this beloved classic, baked cream cheese spaghetti offers a flavorful departure from traditional recipes. In this article, we explore the tantalizing world of baked cream cheese spaghetti, from its inception to simple steps on how to create this culinary masterpiece in your own kitchen.
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Ingredients:
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Spaghetti | 12 ounces |
| Lean ground beef | 1 pound |
| Spaghetti sauce | 1 (28 ounce) jar |
| Cream cheese | 1 (8 ounce) package |
| Garlic | 1 clove |
| Italian seasoning | 1 teaspoon |
| Garlic salt | 1 pinch |
| Parmesan cheese | ½ cup |
| Mozzarella cheese | ½ cup |
Instructions:
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan with cooking spray or butter.
- Cook Spaghetti: Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add 12 ounces of spaghetti to the boiling water and cook according to package instructions until it’s al dente, meaning it’s cooked but still slightly firm to the bite. This usually takes about 10-12 minutes.
- Cook Ground Beef: While the spaghetti is cooking, heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 pound of lean ground beef to the skillet and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until it’s browned and no longer pink, which typically takes about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess fat from the skillet.
- Prepare Sauce: Once the ground beef is cooked, add a 28-ounce jar of spaghetti sauce to the skillet. Stir well to combine the sauce with the ground beef. You can use any variety of spaghetti sauce you prefer, such as marinara, meat sauce, or tomato basil.
- Mix Spaghetti: When the spaghetti is cooked, drain it and transfer it to a large mixing bowl. Add 1 package (8 ounces) of softened cream cheese, 1 minced clove of garlic, 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, and a pinch of garlic salt to the spaghetti. Stir until the cream cheese is melted and the spaghetti is evenly coated with the mixture.
- Assemble Dish: Spread a thin layer of the meat sauce on the bottom of the prepared baking pan. Then, add the spaghetti mixture on top of the sauce, spreading it out evenly. Pour the remaining meat sauce over the spaghetti.
- Add Cheese: Sprinkle 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese and 1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the spaghetti and sauce mixture.
- Bake: Place the baking pan in the preheated oven and bake for about 30 minutes, or until the dish is heated through and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve: Once baked, remove the dish from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before serving. Slice into portions and serve hot. Enjoy your delicious baked cream cheese spaghetti!
