Baked Spaghetti
Ingredients
- 1 1/3 lb ground turkey
- 2 26 oz jars of your favorite marinara sauce (If I'm using store bought I like the Ragu Traditional)
- 12 oz dry spaghetti
- 8 oz shredded cheddar cheese
- 8 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 t. garlic powder
- 1 t. onion powder
- 1 t. dried oregano
- 1 t. dried basil
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Cook spaghetti according to package directions.
- Meanwhile, heat a little bit of olive oil in a large skillet. Add ground turkey and brown until cooked through. Add onion powder, garlic powder, dried basil, dried oregano, and salt and pepper. Stir and cook a minute or two more.
- Add the two jars of pasta sauce. Stir to combine and let simmer for at least a few minutes. I usually let it simmer on low until the pasta is cooked and I am ready to assemble the casserole, which ends up being maybe 10 minutes.
- In a 13x9 casserole dish start by spooning 1/3 of the meat and sauce mixture into the bottom of the pan until the entire bottom is coated in a thin layer of sauce. Then add 1/2 of the cooked and drained spaghetti. Then add 1/3 of each of the cheeses.
- Repeat: Add 1/3 of the meat sauce mixture, the other half of the spaghetti, and 1/3 of each of the cheeses.
- Add the last 1/3 of the meat sauce mixture to the top. (Reserve the last 1/3 of each of the cheeses for later).
- Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.
- Remove from oven. Add the remaining 1/3 of each of the cheeses. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes.
Notes
Make Ahead Options: This is a great meal to make earlier in the day. I often assemble it when I have time in the morning or early afternoon and then just set it in the fridge until I'm ready to bake it at dinner time. I do take it out for about 20 minutes or so to allow it to warm up a bit before putting it in the oven.
Helping Hands: This is a great meal for kids to help with if you can let the ingredients cool a little bit. I usually ladle the sauce in, but often my kids help layer in the spaghetti and the cheese.
What to serve with it: We usually like this with a simple green salad. I have also served it with a steamed vegetable like broccoli.
*This is a great meal to bring to a friend in need as well! I have made this for friends so many times! It reheats well and feeds a crowd (or provides great leftovers!). I usually send it with a few steamer bags of frozen veggies and some frozen garlic bread for them to make along with it.