Description
A rich, creamy, and cheesy baked spaghetti casserole that combines al dente pasta with Italian sausage, a homemade marinara-cream sauce, and a crispy breadcrumb topping. It’s an easy, comforting weeknight dinner that tastes like it costs a fortune.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound spaghetti
- 1 tablespoon salt (for pasta water)
- Water (enough for a large pot)
- 1 pound mild Italian sausage (links, casing removed)
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups low-moisture mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti until al dente (8-10 minutes). Before draining, reserve 1 cup of pasta water. Drain pasta, rinse briefly with cold water, and toss with a little olive oil.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add crumbled Italian sausage and cook until browned (about 5 minutes). Remove meat from skillet, leaving fond in the pan.
- In the same skillet, sauté diced onion for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Pour in marinara sauce and heavy cream. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened. Taste and adjust salt.
- Add the cooked spaghetti and browned sausage back to the skillet. Toss to coat. If too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water.
- Pour the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
- Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan over the top.
- Mix breadcrumbs with melted butter and sprinkle evenly over the cheese.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until cheese is bubbly and breadcrumbs are golden brown. Cover with foil if browning too quickly.
- Let rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley.
Notes
Do not overcook the pasta as it will continue to cook in the oven. Shred your own cheese to ensure proper melting. Let the casserole rest before serving to allow the sauce to set. This dish does not freeze well due to the dairy content; store leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 20
Keywords: baked spaghetti, casserole, comfort food, cheesy pasta, Italian sausage, weeknight dinner, family meal, creamy pasta