Description
A comforting oven-baked pasta dish layered with tender meatballs, rich marinara sauce, and melted cheese, perfect for family dinners and gatherings.
Ingredients
-
1 pound ground beef or ground chicken
-
1 cup breadcrumbs
-
1 large egg
-
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
-
2 cloves garlic, minced
-
1 teaspoon salt
-
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
-
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
-
2 tablespoons olive oil
-
12 ounces spaghetti
-
4 cups marinara sauce
-
1 teaspoon dried basil
-
1 teaspoon dried oregano
-
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
-
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
-
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
-
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a baking dish.
-
Mix ground meat, breadcrumbs, egg, Parmesan, garlic, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Form into meatballs.
-
Brown meatballs in olive oil over medium heat.
-
Cook spaghetti until al dente and drain.
-
Toss spaghetti with marinara sauce, basil, oregano, and red pepper flakes.
-
Layer half the spaghetti in the dish, add meatballs, then top with remaining spaghetti.
-
Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan over the top.
-
Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Uncover and bake 15 minutes more.
-
Rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
This recipe can be assembled ahead of time and baked later. Leftovers store well in the refrigerator or freezer and reheat beautifully without losing flavor or texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes