Description
Creamy Baked Cream Cheese Spaghetti brings comfort and flavor to pasta night with minimal ingredients. Italian-inspired comfort meets simple preparation for a delightful meal you can quickly craft at home.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
- 1 cup (100 g) mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 12 oz (340 g) spaghetti
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
- ½ cup (120 ml) cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup (120 ml) ricotta or cottage cheese
- ¼ cup (60 ml) sour cream
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and position a rack in the center for optimal heat distribution.
- Pasta Foundation: Cook spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente, drain completely, and lightly coat with olive oil to prevent clumping.
- Meat Transformation: In a large skillet, brown ground beef over medium-high heat, carefully draining excess fat to concentrate flavor. Incorporate marinara sauce, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper, simmering for 5 minutes to develop a rich, aromatic base.
- Creamy Fusion: Whisk cream cheese, sour cream, ricotta, and half the Parmesan into a smooth, velvety mixture that will serve as the dish’s luxurious binding agent.
- Layering Technique: Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish, spreading a thin layer of meat sauce as the initial foundation. Arrange half the spaghetti, generously cover with the cream mixture, then layer remaining pasta and meat sauce to ensure complete coverage.
- Cheese Finale: Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and remaining Parmesan across the top, creating a golden, bubbling crust.
- Baking Process: Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes, then remove foil and continue baking 10-15 minutes until cheese turns golden and slightly crisp.
- Serving Presentation: Rest the casserole for 5-10 minutes to allow flavors to meld and layers to set. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve this comforting pasta masterpiece.
Notes
- Optimize Meat Browning: Ensure ground beef is thoroughly browned with minimal moisture, creating a deep caramelized exterior that intensifies overall flavor and prevents watery sauce.
- Control Cheese Consistency: Bring cream cheese to room temperature before mixing to achieve a smooth, lump-free cream base that blends seamlessly with other ingredients.
- Prevent Pasta Overcooking: Slightly undercook spaghetti during initial boiling, as it will continue cooking in the oven, maintaining a perfect al dente texture in the final dish.
- Customize Dietary Needs: Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based meat alternatives for lower-fat or vegetarian versions, keeping the creamy pasta’s core essence intact.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg