Easy Southern Baked Spaghetti Recipe
This Easy Southern Baked Spaghetti Recipe is a cheesy, family-favorite casserole made with ground beef, Italian sausage, and a simple homemade sauce. Perfect for Sunday dinner or a make-ahead meal!
Servings: 8
Calories: 628kcal
Equipment
- 1 9x13-inch rectangle baking dish
- 1 Large skillet or pot
- 1 Wooden spoon or meat chopper
- 1 Box grater (for shredding cheese)
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef (16–25% fat recommended)
- 1 pound ground Italian sausage (mild or hot)
- ¼ cup onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 15 ounces tomato sauce (1 can)
- ½ cup ketchup
- 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 16 ounces spaghetti (regular or thin)
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with olive oil, butter, or cooking spray.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook 1 pound ground beef and 1 pound sausage until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Drain excess fat.
- Add ¼ cup diced onion and cook 1–2 minutes until softened. Stir in 2 cloves garlic and cook for another minute.
- Add 15 ounces tomato sauce, ketchup, 3 tablespoons Worcestershire, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Stir well. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, cook 16 ounces spaghetti in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain.
- Spread spaghetti evenly in prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with ½ cup mozzarella.
- Pour meat sauce evenly over pasta and cheese. Top with remaining 1 cup mozzarella.
- Bake uncovered for 25–30 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Remove from oven, rest for 5 minutes, then cut into 8 portions. Serve warm with Parmesan, garlic bread, or salad.
Video
Notes
- Make-ahead: Assemble casserole, cover, and refrigerate overnight. Bring to room temperature before baking.
- Cheese swaps: Try cheddar, Italian blend, ricotta, or cottage cheese for variety.
- Shortcut: Use jarred marinara instead of homemade sauce if short on time.
- Spicy option: Add crushed red pepper flakes or hot Italian sausage.
Storage & Reheating
- Refrigerator: Cover and store up to 3–4 days.
- Freezer: Assemble but don’t bake, cover tightly and freeze up to 2 months. Thaw in fridge overnight before baking.
- Reheating: Warm in oven at 300°F until heated through, or microwave individual portions.
Nutrition
Calories: 628kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 1131mg | Potassium: 718mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 459IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 160mg | Iron: 4mg
