Baked Spaghettiis the perfect combination of warm flavorful sauce, juicy ground beef, melted cheesy goodness, and tender noodles. With this quick and easy recipe you can enjoy all your favorite Italian flavors in one bite!

Baked spaghetti served on a white plate.

This dish offers so much flexibility since you can prepare it in the morning and then store it in the fridge until dinner time. Just pop it in the oven for under 30 minutes before you want to eat dinner. It can be easily reheated the next day for another round of delicious comfort food.

The ground beef is perfectly seasoned with a variety of savory spices to compliment the sweetness of the marinara sauce and richness of the mozzarella cheese. One of our favorite things about this dish is being able to customize it with different cheeses. For a richer flavor, try topping your baked spaghetti with freshly shredded parmesan cheese.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Uses low cost ingredients for a rich, savory flavor.
Can be adapted to be gluten and dairy free.
An easy meal to make ahead of time.

Recipe Ingredients

Ground Beef—You can substitute your beef with ground turkey or Italian sausage.
Spice Mix—A flavorful blend of garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes.
White Onion—A yellow onion works as well.
Spaghetti—Cooked.
Marinara Sauce—You can use any kind of homemade or store-bought red sauce in this recipe.
Mozzarella Cheese—Freshly shredded cheese will melt the best, but pre-shredded mozzarella cheese can be used as well.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How to Make Baked Spaghetti

Ground beef with seasonings in a skillet.

Step #1.Preheat your oven to 375°F. Cook the seasonings and ground beef thoroughly in a large skillet.

Step #2.Add the diced onion and cook until the onions are translucent.

Red sauce added to a pan of browned ground beef.

Step #3.Stir in the marinara sauce to evenly coat the ground beef. Combine the beef mixture, already prepared spaghetti, and some of the cheese in a baking dish.

Assembling the baked spaghetti in a 9x13 with sprinkled cheese on top.

Step #4.Combine the beef mixture, already prepared spaghetti, and some of the cheese in a baking dish. Spread the remaining cheese on top and bake uncovered until bubbly.

Recipe FAQs

What other cheeses can I add to my baked spaghetti?

Try adding freshly grated parmesan or romano cheese right on top just before serving for that perfect Italian restaurant feel. You can also substitute grated parmesan for a portion of the mozzarella cheese in the spaghetti mixture.

Can I freeze baked Spaghetti?

Baked spaghetti can be made ahead of time and stored in the freezer for up to 3 months! Use a foil pan and follow all the directions as listed, but then double wrap the pan in tin foil and plastic wrap before baking. Label the wrap with the name of the dish and the oven preheat temperature using a sharpie. Remember to take the freezer meal out of the freezer and store it in the refrigerator the night before you would like to eat it. To avoid soggy noodles, cook the spaghetti al dente if you are planning to make this a freezer meal.

How do you keep baked spaghetti from drying out?

You can always add a little more sauce if you feel like the baked spaghetti is drying out. You can also add a dollop of marinara sauce before reheating to help the noodles stay moist even as leftovers.

Up close view of baked spaghetti on a spatula.

Expert Tips

If you use ground beef with a higher fat content than 90/10, thenjust drain some of the excess greasefrom the pan after browning the meat.
The recipe calls for plain marinara sauce, butyou can definitely experiment with any favorite red sauce. This can be a fun way to add a slightly different flavor to the dish.
If you have some extra time on your hands,making your own marinara sauce is a fun way to customize this disheven further and add your own personal touch.
You can make your own Italian seasoningby combining equal parts garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, rosemary, and thyme. Other spices you can add include black pepper and basil.
In addition to using mozzarella,you can sprinkle some grated parmesan or romano cheeseon top of your dish for some extra sharpness.
We like to garnish our baked spaghetti with fresh parsley or basil.

How to Store Leftover Baked Spaghetti

Your leftovers will store well in the fridge for up to 4 days in an airtight container. Reheat your leftovers by placing a single serving on a plate covered with a paper towel or paper plate. Microwave for 1 minute, or until the spaghetti is warm all the way through.

Serving Ideas

This dish makes for a great stand-alone entree, but it can also be served with a variety of sides. We like to balance the savory, carb-heavy pasta with lighter sides. Some of our favorites include: