• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Hot Rod's Recipes
  • Browse Recipes
  • How-To
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Videos
  • How-To
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Videos
    • How-To
    • About
    • Subscribe
  • ×

    Home » Casseroles

    Rod's Spaghetti Casserole

    Published on April 4, 2017 - Updated on May 13, 2023 by Chef Rodney - 1 Comment - This post may contain affiliate links.

    226 shares
    Jump to Recipe
    spaghetti casserole
    This Spaghetti Casserole is a delicious variation on an Italian classic pasta dish. I just love this delicious pasta casserole.
     
    Spaghetti Casserole

    This Spaghetti Casserole is a delicious recipe I slapped together one night. It reminds me of when I was a kid eating Mom's homemade spaghetti. This recipe is very easy to make and your whole family will love it!

    meat mixture
    Ground Beef Mixture

    💭 What is Al Dente

    When making most pasta dishes, it's important to cook the pasta al dente to ensure to best texture possible. If you are not familiar with the term "al dente", it means cooking the pasta so it's still chewy and firm and that it will hold its shape when the sauce is added to it.

    Spaghetti Casserole
    Cream Cheese Mixture on Cooked Spaghetti

    🐄 How to Handle Raw Beef

    Thaw raw ground beef on a plate on the lowest shelf of the refrigerator, to avoid dripping onto other foods.
    Keep raw and ready-to-eat meats separate.
    Wash hands thoroughly before and after handling raw ground beef. Wash cutting boards, bowls, and utensils used to prepare raw ground beef with hot soapy water and rinse well.
    Use separate plates to carry raw ground beef patties to the cooking area and cooked patties to the serving area.
    Use a Thermometer to ensure Ground Beef Reaches the Safely Cooked Internal Temperature of 160°F.

    Spaghetti Casserole
    Casserole Ready for the Oven

    There's just something about a baked pasta dish like this one that I just love. Is it the melted cheese? The way the pasta sauce evenly coats all the noodles? Doesn't matter.

    fresh out of the oven
    Fresh out of the Oven

    💭 Recipe Tip

    If cottage cheese is not your thing, you can substitute it with a little more cream cheese and/or sour cream. Ricotta Cheese would work as well. Or you can use nothing at all.

    cheesey goodness

    Additionally, if you don't have any mozzarella cheese on hand you can substitute for Monterey Jack or Provolone. Just make sure you pick a cheese that melts well.

    Spaghetti Casserole

    While you can pretty much use any brand of cream cheese, I highly recommend you use Philadelphia brand cream cheese. You will taste the difference.

    philadelphia cream cheese

    💭 Serving Suggestions

    What does better with a great pasta dish than some Cheesy Garlic Bread. This is the best garlic bread you will ever have!

    Spaghetti Casserole

    For more great recipes made with Ricotta Cheese or Cottage Cheese, I suggest you check these recipes out:

    • penne meatball casserole
      Penne Meatball Casserole
    • classic lasagna
      Classic Lasagna
    • Turkey No Yolks Pasta Casserole
      Turkey No Yolks Pasta Casserole
    • White Pita Pizza with Prosciutto
      White Pita Pizza with Prosciutto

    📋 Gather your Ingredients

    You will need the following ingredients to make this Spaghetti Casserole recipe (see recipe card for quantities): Ground Beef, Pasta Sauce, Cream Cheese, Sour Cream, Cottage Cheese, Unsalted Butter, Spaghetti, Yellow Onion and Mozzarella Cheese.

    🥣 How to Make Spaghetti Casserole

    Preheat the oven to 350°F.
    In a small mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, sour cream and cottage cheese and mix thoroughly. I find it easier to soften the cream cheese first. Set aside.
    Cook the spaghetti "al dente" according to the instructions on the package. Drain and set aside.
    Add a small amount of olive oil to a skillet and saute the diced onions for about 3 minutes over medium heat. Add the ground beef to the skillet. Cook until the beef is browned. Drain fat and return meat to skillet.
    Add the spaghetti sauce to the beef mixture. Mix thoroughly and remove from heat.
    Put a few slices of butter in the bottom of a 9 x 13 casserole dish. Then layer half of the noodles in the bottom of the dish.
    Spread the cheese mixture over this layer of noodles. Add the rest of the noodles on top of the cheese layer along with a few tablespoons of butter.
    Pour the meat mixture on top of the noodles and spread evenly ensuring all the noodles are covered.
    Bake for 20-30 minutes. Remove the dish from the oven and spread the shredded cheese on top of the meat mixture. Return to the oven for another 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

    Spaghetti Casserole

    Rod's Spaghetti Casserole

    This Spaghetti Casserole is a delicious variation on an Italian classic pasta dish. I just love this delicious pasta casserole.
    4.58 from 7 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    Prep Time 30 minutes mins
    Cook Time 45 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 10
    Calories 632 kcal

    Equipment

    • Skillet
    • Saucepan

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 lb Ground Beef
    • 28 oz Pasta Sauce
    • 8 oz Cream Cheese, room temperature
    • ¼ Cup Sour Cream
    • 8 oz Cottage Cheese
    • ½ Cup Unsalted Butter
    • 16 oz Spaghetti
    • 1 Yellow Onion, Diced
    • 4 Cups Mozzarella Cheese, Shredded

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 350°F.
    • In a small mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, sour cream and cottage cheese and mix thoroughly. I find it easier to soften the cream cheese first. Set aside.
    • Cook the spaghetti "al dente" according to instructions on the package. Drain and set aside.
    • Add a small amount of olive oil to a skillet and saute the diced onions for about 3 minutes over medium heat. Add the ground beef to the skillet. Cook until the beef is browned. Drain fat and return meat to skillet.
    • Add the spaghetti sauce to the beef mixture. Mix thoroughly and remove from heat.
    • Put a few slices of butter in the bottom of a 9 x 13 casserole dish. Then layer half of the noodles in the bottom of the dish.
    • Spread the cheese mixture over this layer of noodles. Add the rest of the noodles on top of the cheese layer along with a few tablespoons of butter.
    • Pour the meat mixture on top of the noodles and spread evenly ensuring all the noodles are covered.
    • Bake for 20-30 minutes. Remove the dish from the oven and spread the shredded cheese on top of the meat mixture. Return to the oven for another 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 632kcalCarbohydrates: 41gProtein: 28gFat: 39gSaturated Fat: 20gCholesterol: 123mgSodium: 971mgPotassium: 598mgFiber: 2gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 1300IUVitamin C: 6.4mgCalcium: 307mgIron: 2.6mg

    Nutritional information provided for this recipe is based on 1 serving. This information is an estimate and may vary based on several factors. If nutritional information is important to you and your diet, please verify this recipe with a Registered Dietitian.

    Tried this Recipe?Leave a Comment below and share a picture on Instagram and tag @hot_rods_recipes and hashtag #hotrodsrecipes!

    More Casserole Recipes

    • pizza tater tots casserole
      Pizza Tater Tots Casserole
    • weight watchers ziti and turkey casserole
      Weight Watchers Turkey and Ziti Casserole
    • traditional pate chinois
      Traditional Pate Chinois (Shepherd’s Pie)
    • Super Easy Corn Casserole
      Super Easy Corn Casserole
    hot rods recipes

    Reader Interactions

    1 Comment

    1. Nathalie

      April 12, 2022 at 2:01 pm

      What a superb recipe. Made this recipe a few days ago and had leftovers and served it the next day. It was a great hit with my family. Congrats to the chef for posting this recipe.

      Reply

    leave comment and rating! Cancel reply

    We would love to hear from you! If you made this recipe, please choose a star rating. Thanks!

    Recipe Rating:




    Before a comment appears it needs to be approved by the site owner. Read our Comment Policy to see how your comment data is processed. Your email address will NOT be published.

    Primary Sidebar

    Chef Rodney Headshot

    Hi! I'm Rodney and welcome to my blog. I am a foodie and a self-taught cook. See More →

    Memorial Day Recipes

    • sonoran hot dog
      Delicious Hot Dog Toppings
    • smoked st louis bbq ribs
      No Wrap Smoked St. Louis BBQ Ribs
    • The Best Potato Salad
      The Best Potato Salad
    • Jack Daniel's Baked Beans
      Jack Daniel's Baked Beans
    • BBQ Chicken and Pineapple Kabobs
      BBQ Chicken and Pineapple Kabobs
    • Guy's Donkey Sauce for Burgers
      Guy's Donkey Sauce for Burgers
    • Creamy Ranch Macaroni Salad
      Creamy Ranch Macaroni Salad
    • chick-fil-a coleslaw
      Copycat Chick-fil-A Coleslaw

    Trending Recipes

    • traditional canadian bannock bread
      Traditional Canadian Bannock Bread
    • blueberry sour cream coffee cake
      Blueberry Sour Cream Coffee Cake
    • Cinnamon Donut Bread
      Cinnamon Donut Bread
    • Cinnamon Sugar Beaver Tails
      Cinnamon Sugar Beaver Tails

    Recent Recipes

    • slice of pizza
      Weight Watchers Deep Dish Pizza
    • honey grilled shrimp
      Honey Grilled Shrimp
    • three olive quesadillas
      Three Olive Quesadillas
    • swiss onion bread ring
      Swiss Onion Bread Ring

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    Recipes

    • Recipe Index
    • Copycat Recipes
    • Pressure Cooking
    • Celebrity Chef Recipes

    About

    • About Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Recipe Disclaimer
    • Contact Us

    Social

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

    Copyright © 2015-2023 The Ventucky Chef, LLC. All rights reserved.