Description
Spaghetti Boats are a fun and delicious twist on classic spaghetti and meat sauce, served in a garlic butter toasted French bread loaf. This recipe combines a savory ground beef and spaghetti sauce mixture with perfectly cooked spaghetti noodles, all nestled inside a crispy, buttery bread shell and topped with melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Perfect for a family-friendly meal that’s both hearty and comforting.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Sauce
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 jar (24 oz) spaghetti sauce
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Pasta
- 8 ounces spaghetti noodles
Garlic Bread Boat
- 1 loaf French bread
- ½ cup salted butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
Toppings
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat and Brown Meat: Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a sheet pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil for easy cleanup. In a skillet over medium-high heat, add the ground beef, diced onion, and minced garlic. Cook the beef until no longer pink, breaking it up with a spoon. Once browned, drain any excess fat or grease from the pan to keep the dish from being greasy.
- Simmer the Sauce: Stir in the jarred spaghetti sauce, kosher salt, Italian seasoning, and black pepper into the browned beef mixture. Reduce heat to low and let the sauce simmer gently while you cook the pasta and prepare the bread boat.
- Cook Spaghetti Noodles: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti noodles following package instructions until al dente. Drain the noodles in a colander without rinsing, so they retain surface starch to help everything bind together.
- Combine Pasta with Meat Sauce: Add the drained spaghetti noodles directly into the skillet with the simmered meat sauce. Stir well to coat all strands of pasta evenly with the flavorful sauce.
- Prepare Garlic Bread Boat: While the pasta is cooking, take the French bread loaf and cut a large oval around the top, leaving at least a ½-inch border around the edges. Carefully remove the bread’s middle section to create a hollow ‘boat’ shape.
- Make Garlic Butter Spread and Toast Bread: Mix softened salted butter with garlic powder and dried parsley flakes. Spread this mixture generously inside the hollowed-out bread boat. Place the bread boat on the prepared sheet pan and bake in the preheated oven for 5-8 minutes until the bread is toasted and fragrant.
- Fill and Top the Bread Boat: Spoon the prepared spaghetti and meat sauce mixture into the toasted garlic bread boat, filling it generously. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top.
- Bake to Melt Cheese: Return the filled bread boat to the oven and bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the mozzarella cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Finish and Serve: Remove from the oven, sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the top, and cut the spaghetti boat into large slices. Serve warm and enjoy this hearty, fun meal.
Notes
- Do not rinse cooked spaghetti to help the sauce adhere better.
- Use a sturdy French bread loaf for the best bread boat structure.
- For extra flavor, add red pepper flakes to the sauce if you like a little heat.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and gently reheated in the oven to maintain bread crispiness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
