Baked Spaghetti and Meatballs: A Comfort Food Classic Made Easy
Few dishes capture the heart of home cooking like baked spaghetti and meatballs. Combining tender pasta, savory meatballs, and gooey melted cheese, this dish is the ultimate comfort food — perfect for family dinners, gatherings, or cozy weeknight meals.
Why Baked Spaghetti and Meatballs Are So Special
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One-Pan Convenience: Unlike traditional spaghetti served with meatballs on top, this baked version brings everything together in a single dish — pasta, sauce, meat, and cheese.
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Melty, Golden Cheese: Baking gives the cheese a rich, bubbly crust that adds both flavor and texture.
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Flavor Infusion: Baking allows the sauce to soak into the pasta, while the meatballs absorb the herbs and spices, creating a harmonious, hearty dish.
Ingredients You’ll Need
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Spaghetti (uncooked or slightly undercooked if baking)
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Ground beef or a mix of beef and pork for meatballs
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Breadcrumbs, egg, and Parmesan for the meatball mixture
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Marinara or tomato sauce
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Mozzarella cheese
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Italian seasoning, garlic, salt, and pepper
Optional: fresh basil, red pepper flakes, or ricotta for extra creaminess.
Step-by-Step Preparation
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Make the Meatballs:
Mix ground meat with breadcrumbs, egg, Parmesan, garlic, and seasonings. Roll into small balls and brown them in a skillet or bake lightly in the oven. -
Cook the Pasta:
Boil spaghetti until just under al dente. This ensures it doesn’t get mushy in the oven. -
Layer the Dish:
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Spread a layer of sauce at the bottom of a baking dish.
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Add half of the spaghetti, then half of the meatballs.
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Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and repeat the layers, finishing with a generous layer of cheese on top.
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Bake Until Bubbling:
Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 25–30 minutes, until the cheese is melted and golden. -
Garnish and Serve:
Top with fresh basil or parsley, a sprinkle of Parmesan, and serve hot with garlic bread or a crisp salad.
Tips for the Perfect Baked Spaghetti and Meatballs
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Don’t overcook the pasta before baking to avoid mushiness.
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Brown the meatballs first for extra flavor and a better texture.
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Use a good quality marinara or homemade sauce — it makes a huge difference.
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Mix cheeses: combining mozzarella and Parmesan gives both meltiness and depth of flavor.
Why This Dish Is a Crowd-Pleaser
Baked spaghetti and meatballs are versatile, satisfying, and universally loved. It’s a dish that brings warmth to the table, evokes nostalgia, and is perfect for feeding a hungry family. Plus, leftovers taste just as amazing the next day — often even better as the flavors meld overnight.
Final Thought
Whether you’re cooking for a weeknight family dinner or a special occasion, baked spaghetti and meatballs are a guaranteed hit. It’s comfort food at its finest: hearty, cheesy, and full of flavor — a true classic that never goes out of style.
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