Description
Baked Cream Cheese Spaghetti is a comforting and creamy pasta dish that combines tender spaghetti with rich cream cheese, savory marinara sauce, and a blend of melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. This easy-to-make casserole is perfect for busy weeknights and guaranteed to delight your family with its cheesy, flavorful layers baked to bubbly perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 oz spaghetti
Cheese Mixture
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Sauce and Seasonings
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it’s ready for baking the assembled dish.
- Cook Spaghetti: Prepare the spaghetti according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain well to remove excess water.
- Mix Cream Cheese and Seasonings: In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir until smooth and well blended.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked spaghetti and marinara sauce to the cream cheese mixture. Mix thoroughly to ensure the pasta is evenly coated.
- Transfer to Baking Dish: Pour the creamy spaghetti mixture into a baking dish and spread it out evenly for uniform cooking.
- Add Cheese Topping: Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheeses evenly over the top of the pasta.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, until the cheese topping is melted, bubbly, and slightly golden.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the baked spaghetti to cool for a few minutes before serving to let it set and enhance the flavors.
Notes
- You can use any pasta shape, but spaghetti works best to hold the creamy sauce.
- For a spicier kick, add red pepper flakes to the cheese mixture.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- To make it lower in fat, use reduced-fat cream cheese and cheeses.
- If desired, add cooked ground beef or sausage for a meaty variation.
