Baked Spaghetti Recipe with Layers

This Southern Baked Spaghetti contains several indulgent layers of rich and meaty Bolognese, pasta and luscious cheesy creamy filling making this The Dish to serve at every potluck, game day and celebration you have!

What is Southern Baked Spaghetti?

The South is well known for a laundry list of comfort foods that include Buttermilk Biscuits, BBQ, Fried Chicken, and Banana Pudding. But there are some recipes that seem to live a little under the radar, recipes as Southern Baked Spaghetti.

It’s made with layers that create various textures along with tiers of meaty saucy spaghetti and a delicious cheese filling, similar to that found in a lasagna.

It’s similar to Million Dollar Baked Spaghetti with an added twist. Most Million Dollar Baked Spaghetti recipes call for a layer of cream cheese however in this spaghetti lasagna bake I use ricotta cheese creating more of the taste and texture of lasagna that I love.

Southerners never shy away from making just about anything into a casserole, and this recipe is no exception to that.

Why This Recipe Works

If you’re a fan of those delicious cheese pulls with every bite and crusty cheese dripping over the edge of a dish then this is a recipe for you.

This best baked spaghetti recipe has several layers of goodness baked into it. Most traditional baked spaghetti recipes only have spaghetti baked in a dish topped with cheese.

Perfect for a crowd! It’s really quick to make and elements of the dish can be made ahead making it the perfect dish to serve for potlucks, family gatherings, and much more!

Ingredients You Need

Spaghetti lasagna bake ingredients are separated into two parts, the tasty sauce, and the filling! Let’s look at what you need for both.

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

For this pasta bake, I think scratch spaghetti sauce is best. Trust me when I say it doesn’t even require a ton of effort, and you will get a taste that is truly unbelievable.

• Extra virgin olive oil: The perfect healthy oil to use for cooking the meat and veggies to make the spaghetti sauce.
• Meat: The combination of either ground beef (or ground turkey if you prefer) and Italian sausage provides ample meat essence.
• Aromatics and veggies: Onions, green peppers, and garlic give the sauce a great depth of flavor. 
• Tomatoes: The combination of both tomato sauce and crushed tomatoes adds wonderful heartiness and texture to the sauce as well. 
• Red wine and chicken stock: Thin out the sauce perfectly and add flavor too. 
• Sugar: Just a touch to balance the acid of the tomatoes.
• Seasoning: You will use Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.

Cheesy Filling and the Casserole

The filling for million dollar spaghetti lasagna casserole contains the following key ingredients:

• Ricotta Cheese: I use full fat here. No need to skimp unless absolutely necessary.
• Egg: It helps stabilize and bind the mixture together once baked.
• Basil: An important herb for giving ample Italian flavor. I love fresh basil in Italian recipes.
• Cheese: Parmesan adds sharp flavor to the creamy filling while mozzarella is used in the layers. Do not use the parmesan cheese you find in the can on shelves. You will want freshly grated or shredded parmesan cheese from a block. It is a serious world of difference in terms of flavor!!
• Salt: Add in increments and taste as you go along. Sometimes cheeses vary in their saltiness.
• Spaghetti: The perfect noodle for this recipe! You can also use other shapes of pasta if desired!

Variations for Spaghetti Lasagna

If you’re looking to change it up here are a few ideas!

• Swap the mozzarella cheese. Use another meltable cheese to create different flavors such as cheddar, Monterey jack, or even a blend of cheese.
• Change the protein. Skip the meat sauce and use marinara instead and layer chunks of cooked chicken breast into your southern spaghetti casserole.
• Add some veggies. You can add greens such as spinach or kale to the sauce or simply add a layer on top of the creamy ricotta cheese in the layers of your spaghetti bake.

How to Make Baked Spaghetti

I’ve been making spaghetti casseroles for years, each time playing with the recipe until I’d perfected it.

1. Cook the ground beef, Italian sausage, onion, green pepper, and salt and pepper in olive oil.
2. Add the garlic when the meat is browned and the veggies soft.

3. Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, red wine, chicken stock, Italian seasoning, sugar, and red pepper flakes.
4. Continue to simmer until the sauce has thickened.

5. Combine the ricotta cheese, egg, basil, parmesan cheese, and salt in a large bowl. Mix everything together until creamy and well-mixed. 

6. Cook the spaghetti noodles in a large pot of boiling lightly salted water for 8 to 10 minutes.  Drain the noodles and rinse them with cold water. Add the sauce to the spaghetti and toss to combine then set it aside.
7. Begin layering by spreading one-third of the spaghetti noodles and sauce to the bottom of the 9 x 13 Pyrex Deep baking dish.
8. Top with half of the ricotta filling and then a large amount of mozzarella cheese.

9. Repeat the steps with another layering of spaghetti followed by the remaining half of ricotta cheese and mozzarella.
10. Add the final layer of spaghetti and sauce and sprinkle with cheese. 

11. Bake for 35-45 minutes or until golden brown and the cheese is bubbly and delicious. 
    Cool for 10-15 minutes, sprinkle with parsley, and serve.

How to Store Leftovers

Store leftovers in the fridge for up to five days. Make sure it’s in an airtight container to prevent drying out. I do not recommend freezing this spaghetti lasagna casserole. Pasta simply doesn’t freeze great.

Reheat a single portion in the microwave or you can reheat the casserole dish in the oven until hot and bubbly again.

What to Serve With

I love hearty pasta to be served with filling breads like garlic bread or garlic cheese breadsticks. Also a lovely salad like this Spinach Salad or Harvest Salad.

Expert Tips

Here are a few tips that I’ve picked up along the way to help you make the best version of this recipe possible.

• Make sure to use the right baking dish. I used Pyrex Deep which allowed me to add more layers of deliciousness, cheesiness, and irresistible flavor. The best part is that they now also come with lids so that you can easily store leftovers or pack up your favorite recipes to be shared at parties and potlucks.
• Use freshly grated cheese. Using freshly grated cheese creates a larger depth of flavor and tends to melt and distribute a bit better than pre-shredded options.
• Don’t use premade meat sauce. I know that making your own sauce can be a bit time-consuming but I promise that it’s worth it. Jarred sauces tend to be heavy on sugar, salt, and artificial meat flavorings that just don’t compare to the real thing.
• Don’t be afraid to customize this recipe. One of the beauties of this recipe is its ability to be tweaked to fit your personal preferences. This recipe is traditionally made with spaghetti noodles but you can easily substitute it for any other shape of pasta. You’re also welcome to play with the cheeses and experiment to find what makes your southern baked spaghetti unique.

FAQs

More Favorite Italian Recipes

• Shrimp Scampi Pasta
• Spaghetti and Lentil Meatballs
• Italian Pot Roast with Bolognese Sauce
• Homemade Pizza Sauce
• Baked Ziti
• Lasagna
• Lentil Meatballs and Spaghetti

*Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating and leave comments below!* Post a photo of how your version of the recipe came out on Instagram (using #grandbabycakes)!!

This post was originally published in September 2019. It has been updated with some new images and content.