Description
Rich, creamy baked cream cheese spaghetti delivers comfort on a plate with hearty pasta swirled in silky cheese sauce. Warm Italian-inspired flavors meld together, creating a simple yet irresistible meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Protein:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 jar (24 ounces) marinara or pasta sauce
Pasta and Seasonings:
- 1/2 pound spaghetti
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- Water for boiling
- Salt for pasta water
Instructions
- Boil the spaghetti in a generously salted water bath until perfectly tender, ensuring each strand reaches al dente consistency. Carefully drain and set pasta aside, allowing excess moisture to evaporate.
- Transform ground beef in a heated skillet, breaking down protein into delicate crumbles. Incorporate finely chopped onions and aromatic garlic, sautéing until vegetables soften and release their fragrant essence. Season the mixture with robust salt, cracked pepper, and Italian herb blend.
- Introduce marinara sauce into the meat mixture, allowing flavors to meld and intensify through a gentle simmering process. Let the sauce develop complex undertones for maximum depth.
- Whisk cream cheese, sour cream, and Parmesan into a silky, luxurious sauce. Ensure complete integration of ingredients, creating a smooth, velvety texture that will envelop the pasta.
- Preheat oven to 350°F, preparing a spacious baking vessel. Create a foundational layer of rich meat sauce, then delicately drape pasta coated in cream cheese mixture across the surface.
- Distribute remaining meat sauce uniformly, ensuring complete pasta coverage. Generously crown the casserole with a blanket of shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Shield the dish with aluminum foil, baking initially for 20 minutes to develop internal temperatures and marry flavors. Uncover and continue baking until cheese transforms into a golden, bubbling masterpiece.
- Allow casserole to rest momentarily after removing from oven, permitting flavors to stabilize. Serve warm, presenting a comforting, decadent culinary creation.
Notes
- Perfectly cook pasta al dente to maintain a slight firmness, preventing mushy texture when baked.
- Consider using lean ground beef or turkey for a lighter, healthier version of the dish.
- Enhance flavor by adding fresh herbs like basil or parsley as a final garnish for brightness and aroma.
- Allow casserole to rest 10-15 minutes after baking to help set and make serving easier, preventing runny consistency.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg