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This meaty and satisfying baked cream cheese spaghetti recipe is ideal for a busy weeknight and, because it keeps so well, it’s worth doubling or tripling the recipe so you can enjoy it later in the week too. The combination of beef and spaghetti is a classic one, and this recipe also has onions, marinara sauce, cream cheese, garlic, and shredded cheese. It’s a winning comfort style dish that pairs well with all kinds of side dishes and is sure to please everyone at the dinner table.
In just 30 minutes, you can have this baked cream cheese spaghetti on the table. It’s a meaty, cheesy and truly tasty comfort food everyone will love!
Try this smoked Italian pasta salad, ricotta beef stuffed pasta, pancetta pea pasta or chicken Bolognese. And also these pizza zucchini boats.
Why You’ll Love It
A speedy meal: This baked cream cheese spaghetti can be on the dinner table within half an hour.
Delicious flavors: If you love rich flavors, you’ll find the combo of beef, cream cheese, shredded cheese, marinara sauce, garlic, and other ingredients heavenly.
Easy to make: This is a straightforward recipe to make. You cook the spaghetti, prepare the meat sauce and then combine the two and bake in the oven until the cheese on top is gooey and melted.
Ingredients for Baked Spaghetti with Cream Cheese
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below
Ground beef: To add a meaty flavor. You can use your favorite kind of beef (ground chuck is always good) or even sub something else like ground pork or chicken.
Spaghetti: This is a budget ingredient which is always worth keeping in the pantry. Sub another ribbon pasta if you prefer, such as tagliatelle, or even use pasta shapes like fusilli or penne.
Onion: Use any kind of onion you like. Sweet onions are good here, as are red onions. If you’re out of onions add a sprinkling of onion powder instead.
Marinara sauce: A tomato sauce with onions, garlic and herbs. You can use your favorite brand or even use a spicy tomato sauce instead if you prefer.
Cheese: You need cream cheese as well as a couple of cups of shredded cheese to make this baked cream cheese spaghetti. Any kind of shredded cheese works.
Seasonings: Salt and pepper, Italian seasoning, garlic, and dried chives add plenty of flavor to the dish.
How to Make Baked Cream Cheese Spaghetti Casserole
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Cook the spaghetti: Cook the spaghetti following the directions on the package and drain.
Fry the onions: Pan fry the onions in olive oil in a large cast iron skillet until tender.
Add more ingredients: Add the beef, salt and pepper, and garlic powder, and cook until the meat isn’t pink any more.
Add the sauce: Pour in the marinara sauce and add the Italian seasoning too, then turn the heat right down.
Combine the spaghetti and cream cheese: Put the drained cooked spaghetti in a mixing bowl with the cream cheese, and mix until well combined.
Season the spaghetti mixture: Mix in the minced garlic and dried chives.
Mix with the meat sauce: Next, mix the spaghetti mixture with the ground beef mixture and add half the cheese.
Bake: Spread the mixture evenly in the cast iron skillet, or in an ovenproof baking dish, and sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top, then bake for 10 minutes or until the cheese on top has melted, then serve hot.
Substitutions and Variations
Spice it up: Sub ground spicy sausage for the ground beef or use spicy cheese. Some crushed red pepper is another nice way to add a kick of heat.
Cheese it up: You might like to swap the onions for some cheddar and Colby jack cheese. You can use any kind of shredded cheese you want, perhaps Italian blend or Mexican blend, pepper jack, or Swiss cheese.
Go deluxe: Add sauteed mushrooms and onions, and serve with freshly grated cheese and fresh herbs on top for a fancier finish.
Gluten-free version: Swap the spaghetti for your favorite gluten-free spaghetti or pasta shapes.
How to Serve Baked Cream Cheese Spaghetti
Side dishes: Enjoy this spaghetti recipe with a simple salad or some roasted veggies on the side. I like smoked asparagus and roasted carrots.
Dessert: Everyone is going to be satisfied after this filling comfort food so if you’re making dessert too, you’ll probably want to choose something light. Strawberry shortcake, lemon ricotta cookies, or dragon fruit ice cream would be ideal.
How to Store Baked Spaghetti with Cream Cheese
Store: Leftovers keep for up to 4 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Freeze: You can freeze portions of this, then thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat.
Reheat: Reheat leftovers in a ramekin (with extra shredded cheese on top) in the air fryer for a few minutes at 350 degrees F, or reheat them in the microwave.
Top Tips
Drain the fat: If you’re using ground beef with a high fat percentage, you might like to drain the fat off before adding the marinara sauce. You don’t have to drain it if you don’t want to.
Use a cast iron skillet: Save on the washing up by using a cast iron skillet which you can use on the stove and later in the oven. If you don’t have one, you can transfer the mixture into a baking dish instead, although that adds another element to the washing up pile afterwards! If you need a large cast iron skillet, this one is a great investment and you’ll use it all the time!
Let it rest: Don’t serve this straight from the oven because you’re going to burn your mouth (and this is especially important if there are kids eating this). Let it sit for 10 or 15 minutes to cool down enough to eat. Use this time to make a salad perhaps.
Baked Cream Cheese Spaghetti Recipe FAQs
As the only non-vegetarian ingredient is the ground beef, you can sub something in its place, such as mushrooms or your preferred vegetarian protein – tofu or TVP (textured vegetable protein) perhaps.
I like sour cream with mine and I also like freshly grated parmesan cheese, so I always put those on the table and let people help themselves. You could also offer hot sauce or red pepper flakes at the table.
There are some keto-friendly pasta alternatives you could use, or you might prefer to use spiralized vegetables (zoodles!) in the place of spaghetti to reduce the carb count. If you’re looking for a keto option, I’d recommend using 70/30 ground beef, full fat cheese and cream cheese, and a keto-approved spaghetti sauce like Rao’s (here).
Cream Cheese Spaghetti Casserole Recipe
Baked Cream Cheese Spaghetti
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- ½ Cup onion, chopped, any kind
- 1 Pound ground beef
- ½ Teaspoon salt
- ½ Teaspoon black pepper
- ½ Teaspoon onion powder
- 24 Ounces marinara sauce, homemade or jar
- 2 Teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 Box spaghetti
- 8 Ounces cream cheese , room temperature
- 2 Teaspoons garlic, minced
- 1 Tablespoon dried chives
- 1 Cup mozzarella, shredded
- 1 Cup Colby Jack, shredded
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- If you haven’t cooked your pasta, cook now, drain, and set aside.
- In a large skillet, 12 inches, over medium heat, pour oil and add onions. Cook until they are softened and tender.
- Add the ground beef and break it into pieces. Sprinkle the salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Mix well and cook until the meat is no longer pink.
- Pour the Marinara sauce and add the Italian seasoning.
- Mix well and reduce heat to low.
- In a large mixing bowl, put the cooked spaghetti and add the cream cheese.
- Mix, using tongs or 2 forks until the spaghetti is coated with cream cheese.
- Sprinkle the minced garlic and dry chives. Mix well.
- Add the seasoned spaghetti to the meat mixture.
- Mix to coat the spaghetti so it is coated with the meat sauce.
- Add half of the cheese, and mix well.
- Spread evenly in the skillet and top with the rest of the cheese.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes or until the top cheese is nice and melted.
Notes
- You can add a little olive oil to the drained spaghetti if you want, to stop it sticking together when mixing with the spaghetti sauce later.
Nutrition
This delicious spaghetti with cream cheese sauce makes a lovely dinner. It’s a hearty combination of spaghetti noodles, spaghetti sauce, juicy ground beef, a garlic and chive cream cheese mixture, colby jack and mozzarella cheese, and all the best Italian seasonings. From start to finish, this takes just 30 minutes to make, so it’s a great choice if you want to whip up an easy, speedy dinner for a busy weeknight or a lazy weekend!
Other Recipes to Try
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
I just tried this recipe. It was so tasty! Will make it again. Thanks!
This recipe is a family favorite. My kids especially love it!
I love your recipe and I made this last night for our quick family gathering and guess what?? It was a hit!
Love this recipe. It is so nostalgic for me!
That cream cheese takes it to another level! So YUMMM!