I Only Want to Eat This Baked Spaghetti Right Now
Baked spaghetti is a comfort-food classic, but the first time I saw it was in a restaurant, and I thought it was the fanciest thing I had ever seen. Spaghetti, cooked into a loaf? The chef must be a fine-dining genius. But it’s really easy to make, so you should give it a try next time you need a meal that feels as comforting as a warm blanket and a hug.
Make a simple meat sauce by cooking some ground beef and chopped onions until the meat is browned. Stir in a jar of your favorite pasta sauce and let it simmer for a couple of minutes to let the flavors blend while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
To make the spaghetti stick together like a cake, you’ll need to toss it in a cheesy mixture of eggs, melted butter, and Parmesan. Whisk the ingredients together, then toss it with cooked spaghetti.
This baked spaghetti is arranged in layers like a lasagna. Use some olive oil to grease a baking dish, add half the egg-coated spaghetti, then spread a layer of cottage cheese on top. Pour half the meat sauce on next, spread it around, then sprinkle a generous portion of shredded mozzarella on top. Repeat all the layers one last time. Bake the casserole for an hour, and let it stand for a few minutes to set before cutting into it.
With all that pasta, cheese, and meat sauce, baked spaghetti is hearty enough to be a meal all by itself; it’d be great with some simple vegetables or a nice salad on the side. For ultimate convenience, try cutting it into individual portions and freezing them separately, so you can reheat them one at a time when you want them, without having to warm up the entire casserole at once.
Get the recipe: Classic Baked Spaghetti from The Recipe Critic
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