Tinis Baked Spaghetti Delight (Printable)

Creamy cheese sauce layered with seasoned beef and baked spaghetti for a hearty main dish.

# Ingredient List:

→ Pasta & Cheese Sauce

01 - 12 oz spaghetti
02 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
03 - 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
04 - 2 cups whole milk
05 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
06 - 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
07 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
08 - 1/2 tsp salt
09 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
10 - 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg (optional)

→ Meat Sauce

11 - 1 lb ground beef
12 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
13 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
14 - 1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce
15 - 1 tsp dried Italian herbs
16 - 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
17 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ Topping

18 - 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
19 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
20 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (optional)

# How to Prepare:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - Boil salted water and cook spaghetti until al dente. Drain and set aside.
03 - In a large skillet over medium heat, brown ground beef. Drain excess fat.
04 - Add onion and garlic to the beef; sauté until softened, approximately 3 minutes.
05 - Stir in marinara, Italian herbs, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes then remove from heat.
06 - Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk, stirring until thickened, about 3–4 minutes.
07 - Remove saucepan from heat. Stir in mozzarella, cheddar, Parmesan, salt, pepper, and nutmeg until cheese melts smoothly.
08 - Toss cooked spaghetti with cheese sauce until evenly coated.
09 - Layer half of the spaghetti mixture in prepared dish, then top with half the meat sauce. Repeat layers.
10 - Sprinkle remaining mozzarella and Parmesan over top.
11 - Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until bubbly and golden. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.
12 - Garnish with chopped parsley if desired. Serve warm.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It's the rare casserole that tastes homemade but comes together faster than you'd expect, perfect when you need something impressive on a weeknight.
  • The cream sauce and meat layer create this wonderful texture contrast where every bite has noodles, cheese, and beef without feeling heavy or one-dimensional.
02 -
  • If your cream sauce breaks or looks grainy when you add the cheese, it usually means the heat was too high or you added cold cheese to hot sauce—whisk it gently over low heat and it'll come back together.
  • The resting time after baking isn't optional; without it, the casserole falls apart when you serve it, but those ten minutes make all the difference in keeping it cohesive on the plate.
03 -
  • Grate your own cheese if you have the patience—the difference in melting smoothness compared to pre-shredded is noticeable and worth the extra two minutes.
  • Keep the oven temperature steady at 375°F; higher heat will brown the top too fast before the inside finishes cooking through.
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