Description
Creamy homemade cream cheese spaghetti delight brings Italian comfort to weeknight dinners. Simple ingredients and quick preparation make this dish a perfect choice for hungry families craving cheesy pasta magic.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (454 g) lean ground beef or turkey
- 12 ounces (340 g) spaghetti noodles
- 24 ounces (680 g) marinara or spaghetti sauce
- 8 ounces (227 g) cream cheese, softened and cubed
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 clove garlic, minced
Instructions
- Preparation: Ignite the oven to 350°F (175°C) and position a 9×13 inch baking vessel strategically for the upcoming gastronomic journey.
- Noodle Transformation: Immerse spaghetti in salted water, orchestrating a precise al dente performance. Drain completely and return to the cooking vessel, then seamlessly fold in cream cheese, allowing it to melt and embrace the pasta in a silky caress.
- Meat Infusion: In a sizzling skillet, thoroughly brown the ground beef, eliminating any trace of pink. Introduce Italian seasoning and garlic, awakening a symphony of aromatics. Stream marinara sauce into the mixture, letting flavors dance and intensify during a brief 5-minute simmer.
- Layering Artistry: Construct a foundational beef and sauce layer in the baking dish. Delicately position the cream cheese-enrobed spaghetti atop this savory base, lavishly draping with the remaining sauce composition.
- Cheese Crescendo: Shower the surface with mozzarella and parmesan, creating a blanket of dairy decadence that promises a golden, bubbling culmination.
- Baking Finale: Slide the dish into the heated oven, allowing 30 minutes of transformative culinary magic. The casserole will emerge with crisp-edged perfection and bubbling enthusiasm.
- Resting Interval: Liberate the creation from the oven, granting a 5-minute respite to settle and harmonize its intricate layers before serving.
Notes
- Pasta Perfection: Cook spaghetti al dente to prevent mushiness and maintain a satisfying texture that holds up in the baked dish.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Add cream cheese to hot pasta immediately to ensure smooth, even melting without clumping.
- Fat Draining Tip: Thoroughly drain ground beef to prevent excess grease from making the casserole soggy and heavy.
- Flavor Layering Strategy: Let marinara and beef simmer together to develop deep, rich taste before assembling the final casserole.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 511
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 881 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 37 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 83 mg