Description
Cheesy Spaghetti Pie is a comforting baked pasta casserole featuring a flavorful meat sauce layered between creamy ricotta and melted mozzarella cheese. This hearty dish combines spaghetti tossed with Parmesan and eggs to form a crust, topped with layers of savory ground beef marinara, herb-seasoned ricotta cheese mixture, and gooey mozzarella, then baked to bubbly perfection. Perfect for family dinners or entertaining, it serves 8 with rich flavors and a satisfying texture.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Cheese Mixture
- ½ lb. spaghetti
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 eggs, whisked
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 3 tablespoons cream cheese
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Meat Sauce
- 1 lb. ground beef
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce (not spicy)
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 24 oz. marinara sauce
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a deep 9 or 10-inch pie pan or a 2 to 2 ½ quart baking dish. Combine the ricotta, cream cheese, and dried herbs (basil, parsley, oregano), salt, and pepper in a medium bowl and set aside. Measure out all other ingredients to prepare.
- Cook the Meat Sauce: Season the ground beef with salt and pepper. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the ground beef and diced onions. Cook for 7-10 minutes until the beef is browned and cooked through, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain the excess grease once done.
- Simmer Meat Sauce: Lower heat to medium, add minced garlic, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and Italian seasoning to the skillet. Cook for 2 minutes while stirring frequently to combine flavors. Pour in the marinara sauce, stir to mix well, then reduce heat to low and let the sauce simmer uncovered while preparing the pasta.
- Cook Spaghetti: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti until al dente according to package instructions (about 8-10 minutes). Drain thoroughly and return the hot pasta to the pot.
- Mix Pasta Crust: To the hot spaghetti, add the butter and Parmesan cheese, tossing well to coat the pasta evenly. Add the whisked eggs and toss again to thoroughly combine; the eggs will help bind the pasta into a crust when baked.
- Combine Pasta and Meat Sauce: Stir 1 ½ cups of the simmered meat sauce into the spaghetti mixture until well incorporated. Remove the pot from heat.
- Assemble Base Layer: Transfer the spaghetti and meat sauce mixture into the prepared pie pan or baking dish, pressing down firmly with a spatula or your hands to create an even, packed crust layer at the bottom.
- Add Cheese and Sauce Layers: Spread the ricotta and cream cheese herb mixture evenly over the spaghetti crust. Then spoon the remaining meat sauce on top, spreading it over the ricotta layer. The pan will be quite full but it will hold well.
- Top with Mozzarella: Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the assembled layers to cover the top thoroughly.
- Bake: Place the uncovered dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes until the mozzarella is fully melted and bubbly and the cheese is hot throughout. For a nicely browned top, optionally broil at 450°F for a few minutes, but watch carefully to prevent burning.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the pie from the oven and let it sit for 10-15 minutes to firm up, which helps with slicing and enhances texture and flavor. Slice into portions and serve warm.
Notes
- Using freshly grated Parmesan cheese yields the best flavor and melting quality.
- Pressing down the pasta mixture firmly in the pan helps create a firm crust base.
- The hot sauce adds depth of flavor without spiciness; feel free to omit or adjust to taste.
- Letting the pie rest before slicing is crucial for clean slices and better texture.
- Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheat nicely in the oven.
- Broiling time varies based on your oven; watch closely to avoid burning the cheese.
