Description
This Spaghetti Pie is a comforting and hearty baked pasta dish featuring tender spaghetti noodles combined with creamy cottage cheese or ricotta, layered with a savory ground beef and spaghetti sauce, and topped with melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Perfect for family dinners, it’s an easy one-pan meal that delivers all the flavors of classic spaghetti in a delightful pie form.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 8 ounces spaghetti noodles
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1/4 cup diced yellow onion
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 8 ounces ground beef
- 12 ounces spaghetti sauce
- 8 ounces 4% milkfat cottage cheese or whole milk ricotta
- 8 ounces shredded whole milk mozzarella (about 2 cups), divided
- 4 ounces shredded Parmesan cheese (about 1 cup), divided
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Fresh cracked pepper, to taste
- Fresh chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it’s ready when your pie is assembled.
- Cook Pasta: Boil the spaghetti noodles but cook them 1-2 minutes less than the package directions suggest so they remain firm. Toss the noodles with olive oil and season with salt and pepper to prevent sticking and add flavor.
- Sauté Vegetables: Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add diced onions along with salt and pepper, cooking for about 3 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and Italian seasoning, cooking for another 30 seconds to release their aroma.
- Cook Ground Beef: Add the ground beef to the pan, breaking it up with a spatula. Cook until browned and cooked through. Stir in the spaghetti sauce and allow it to warm through.
- Combine Pasta and Cheeses: In a large bowl, mix the partially cooked spaghetti noodles with cottage cheese or ricotta, half of the mozzarella, half of the Parmesan, heavy cream, and season generously with salt and pepper. Toss everything together carefully with tongs to evenly coat.
- Assemble Pie: Lightly grease a large pie pan and spread the cheese-pasta mixture evenly in the pan. Spoon the meat sauce evenly over the top. Then sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses over the meat sauce layer.
- Bake: Cover the pie tightly with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes until the pasta is warmed through, the cheese is melted, and the edges are bubbling.
- Broil (Optional): For a golden brown cheese top, remove the foil and broil the pie for 1-2 minutes watching carefully to prevent burning.
- Rest and Serve: Let the pie rest for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing. Garnish with additional Parmesan cheese and freshly chopped parsley. Serve warm and enjoy!
- Feedback: If you loved the dish, consider leaving a 5-star rating and a review to share your experience!
Notes
- Cooking the pasta slightly under al dente helps it hold its shape after baking.
- You can substitute ground beef with ground turkey or Italian sausage for different flavors.
- Use whole milk ricotta or 4% milkfat cottage cheese for creaminess and richness.
- Be cautious when broiling to prevent the cheese from burning.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated, though freshest right after baking.
- For a vegetarian version, omit ground beef and increase veggies or add plant-based meat alternatives.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
