Description
When you’re after a creamy, cheesy twist on classic spaghetti night, this Baked Cream Cheese Spaghetti Casserole brings it all. It’s a quick dinner, great for easy weeknight meals, and even better as leftovers. Whether you’re feeding a crowd or meal prepping, this easy recipe fits the bill for dinner ideas that are rich, hearty, and layered with flavor.
Ingredients
12 oz spaghetti
1 lb ground beef
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup reserved pasta water
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium onion, diced
24 oz marinara or spaghetti sauce
1 tbsp Italian seasoning
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
Instructions
1. Cook ground beef in a skillet until nearly browned. Add onion and garlic; cook until softened.
2. Meanwhile, cook spaghetti in salted boiling water. Reserve half a cup of pasta water.
3. Drain pasta and return to pot. Stir in cream cheese and a bit of the reserved water until smooth.
4. Add marinara and Italian seasoning to the beef. Simmer briefly.
5. Preheat oven to 375°F. In a greased 9×13 dish, layer half the spaghetti, half the meat sauce, and repeat.
6. Top with mozzarella and Parmesan.
7. Bake uncovered for 25 minutes until bubbly and golden. Broil 2–3 minutes if you want a crispier top.
Notes
Let the cream cheese come to room temp for easy mixing.
Always save a little pasta water—it makes the cheese mix silky.
Broiling adds a golden, bubbly finish that’s totally worth it.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baked Casserole
- Cuisine: American-Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 490
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: easy dinner, spaghetti casserole, baked pasta, family recipe, quick meal