Description
Comforting layers of pasta, cheese, and marinara merge in this baked spasagna, creating a hearty Italian-inspired casserole. Melted mozzarella and rich seasonings promise a satisfying meal you’ll savor to the last delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein Components:
- 1 lb (454 grams) ground beef or Italian sausage
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 16 oz (454 grams) ricotta cheese
Pasta and Cheese Components:
- 1 lb (454 grams) spaghetti
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup sour cream
Seasoning and Sauce Components:
- 1 jar (24 oz / 680 grams) marinara sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
Instructions
- Initiate oven preparation at 375F (190C), creating an ideal baking environment for the dish.
- Boil spaghetti until perfectly tender, ensuring precise al dente texture. Carefully drain and reserve pasta.
- Transform ground beef or sausage in a skillet, browning meat thoroughly and eliminating excess fat. Infuse marinara sauce with Italian seasoning, onion powder, and optional red pepper flakes. Allow sauce to simmer and develop robust flavors.
- Craft a luxurious cheese blend by whisking ricotta, sour cream, Parmesan, mozzarella, eggs, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper into a creamy mixture. Gently fold cooked spaghetti into the mixture, ensuring complete coverage.
- Prepare a baking dish with light greasing to prevent sticking. Create the first layer by spreading half the spaghetti-cheese mixture evenly across the bottom.
- Distribute half the meat sauce over the initial pasta layer, creating a rich foundation for the dish.
- Repeat layering process with remaining spaghetti mixture, then crown with the final portion of meat sauce.
- Generously sprinkle additional mozzarella and Parmesan cheese across the top, creating a golden, melty surface.
- Encase the dish in aluminum foil, protecting the emerging flavors during initial baking phase.
- Bake covered for 25 minutes, then unveil and continue baking for 10-15 minutes until cheese transforms into a bubbling, golden landscape.
- Allow the spasagna to rest briefly, permitting flavors to settle and texture to stabilize.
- Slice carefully and serve immediately, accompanied by a crisp salad or warm garlic bread for a complete culinary experience.
Notes
- Perfectly cook pasta by testing its doneness with a quick bite, ensuring it remains slightly firm for the baked dish.
- Drain meat thoroughly to prevent excess grease from making the spasagna soggy and heavy.
- Use fresh herbs like basil or parsley as a final garnish to boost flavor and add a vibrant color pop.
- Customize the recipe for vegetarian diets by replacing ground meat with plant-based crumbles or roasted vegetables like zucchini and eggplant.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 564
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 732 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 31 g
- Cholesterol: 132 mg