Description

This Baked Cream Cheese Spaghetti Casserole is a comforting and hearty dish combining tender spaghetti tossed in a creamy mixture of cream cheese, garlic, and Italian seasoning, layered with savory ground beef and rich spaghetti sauce, then baked to bubbly perfection with a Parmesan cheese topping. Perfect for a family-friendly dinner that merges creamy texture with classic Italian flavors.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta and Cream Cheese Mixture

12 oz spaghetti
1 (8-oz) package cream cheese, room temperature
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1 clove garlic, minced

Meat Sauce

1 lb lean ground beef
1 (26-oz) jar prepared spaghetti sauce

Topping

½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated

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Instructions

Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350ºF (175ºC) to prepare for baking the casserole.
Prepare Meat Sauce: In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef until fully cooked. Drain any excess fat from the skillet. Stir in the jar of prepared spaghetti sauce with the cooked beef and set the mixture aside.
Cook Spaghetti: Cook the spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente. Drain well and transfer the cooked spaghetti into a large mixing bowl.
Mix Cream Cheese and Seasoning: While the spaghetti is still warm, add the room temperature cream cheese, Italian seasoning, and minced garlic to the bowl. Stir thoroughly until the cream cheese is melted and the spaghetti is evenly coated with the creamy mixture.
Assemble Casserole: Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Spread a small layer of the meat sauce evenly on the bottom. Add the creamy spaghetti over the meat sauce. Top the spaghetti layer with the remaining meat sauce, spreading it evenly. Finally, sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese evenly on top.
Bake: Place the casserole into the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes, or until bubbly and heated through, and the Parmesan cheese is slightly melted and golden.

Notes

Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature for easier mixing and smoother coating.
If you prefer, you can substitute the ground beef with ground turkey or a vegetarian meat substitute.
Use freshly grated Parmesan for best flavor and melt quality.
For extra flavor, add chopped onions or bell peppers to the ground beef when browning.
Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.