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cheesy baked spaghetti with garlic butter crust - featured image

Cheesy Baked Spaghetti with Garlic Butter Crust

  • Author: Karina
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x

Description

A comforting weeknight dinner featuring spaghetti baked with meat sauce and ricotta, topped with a crunchy garlic butter breadcrumb crust. This easy, kid-approved dish is perfect for using leftovers and freezes well for meal prep.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound spaghetti
  • 3 to 4 cups meat sauce or marinara
  • 15 ounces ricotta cheese
  • 2 to 3 cups shredded low-moisture mozzarella cheese
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • Olive oil or non-stick spray for greasing dish

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  2. Boil spaghetti in salted water for one minute less than al dente. Drain and toss with a drizzle of olive oil.
  3. Melt butter in a saucepan or microwave. Stir in minced garlic, breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, and half of the Parmesan cheese (if using) until it resembles wet sand.
  4. In a large mixing bowl, combine the drained spaghetti and meat sauce. Dollop ricotta over the top and gently fold to combine.
  5. Transfer the pasta mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
  6. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese over the pasta, then evenly distribute the garlic butter breadcrumb mixture on top.
  7. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 15 minutes.
  8. Remove foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes until cheese is bubbly and crust is golden brown.
  9. Let rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley and red pepper flakes.

Notes

Cook pasta one minute less than al dente to prevent mushiness. Use low-moisture mozzarella for better melting. The dish can be assembled ahead and refrigerated for up to 24 hours or frozen for up to 3 months. Add fresh spinach for extra veggies.

  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/6 of the casserole
  • Calories: 450
  • Sugar: 6
  • Sodium: 650
  • Fat: 18
  • Saturated Fat: 9
  • Carbohydrates: 45
  • Fiber: 3
  • Protein: 22

Keywords: baked spaghetti, garlic butter crust, family dinner, weeknight meals, comfort food, cheesy pasta, easy dinner, freezer friendly

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Find it online: https://plateori.com/cheesy-baked-spaghetti-with-garlic-butter-crust-easy-family-dinner/