Sunday, February 1, 2009

Baked Spaghetti Casserole

This is one of our favorite meals. It's an easy twist on spaghetti with just an extra ingredient or two. It's quick, easy, inexpensive, and delicious! And most likely, you have all the necessary ingredients right in your kitchen.

You need about 3/4 lb. spaghetti, 1 jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce, 1 lb. sage sausage, 1/4 C chopped green pepper, 1/4 C chopped onion, 8 oz. block cream cheese, 1/4 C milk, 2 C shredded mozzarella cheese, and Italian seasoning.Boil 3/4 lb. spaghetti according to package directions.
Meanwhile, brown the sausage with the onion, green pepper, and Italian seasoning. You might wonder why I don't just use Italian sausage. And I will tell you. Italian sausage is gross. The sage sausage with some Italian seasoning is delish. Trust me.
Once the sausage is brown, drain. (This sausage was very lean so I didn't need to.) Then add the cream cheese and 1/4 C milk.

Cook over medium-low heat until combined.
I may or may not have gotten to this step only to eat all the sausage/cream cheese mixture. If that happens, just serve the spaghetti with the sauce. No one will be the wiser.
Reserve 1/3 C of spaghetti sauce. Pour the remaining sauce into an 8X8 baking dish.
Gradually add the cooked spaghetti. You don't want it soupy, but you want plenty of sauce so that it doesn't dry out when baking. It will probably take 1/2-3/4 lb. spaghetti. I inevitably make too much, so I always add it slowly until I have just the right amount.
Then spread the sausage/cream cheese mixture on top.
Pour the reserve spaghetti sauce on top of this.
Top it with the mozzarella cheese and a dash of Italian seasoning.
Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 15 minutes until hot and bubbly.
Can you smell it? It's so good!
Serve with garlic bread, a side salad, and a glass of wine and you have yourself a wonderful, inexpensive Italian meal.


Interested in a printable recipe? Let me know and I can email it to you!

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32 comments:

Smoochiefrog said...

Looks yummy! I'll have to try that one night. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

That looks yummy, I will have to try it someday.

Martha@A Sense of Humor is Essential said...

This looks delicious! And it's got all the food groups in it, Brillant. Thanks for the recipe.

Rhea said...

That looks really delicious! I love a salad and garlic bread with it too, PERFECT. Thanks for the recipe!

Unknown said...

OMG.........
I know what we're having for dinner

Finding Normal said...

Love it! This is one of my favorite JDM-gave-it-to-me recipes! Just had it last week. I always make a full package of spaghetti, and this last time I added a can of diced tomatoes to the sausage mixture. Perfect amount of moisture, although it made a HUGE, filled to the brim, 11x8 pan that we couldn't eat.

Becky said...

Sounds great! Send me the printable!!!

Golden@go-concepts.com

Thanks!

Mamarazzi said...

oh YUM!! can i steal this for a Cooking With Jordan recipe!? we will make sure and give y'all props and link you. email me the recipe please...i can't wait to make this!

Unknown said...

This looks really yummy- I'd love a printable copy please. Thanks.
discriminating_diva(at)yahoo(dot)com

Christy said...

(drooling on keyboard)

Kimberly said...

this sounds SO good!

Sarah said...

I am making this for dinner tonight! Just wrtoe out my shopping list! CAN'T WAIT!

Unknown said...

YUMMY!!! I so want to make this now!

Anonymous said...

Looks yummy! I had planned spaghetti on my dinner menu one night this week. I might have to try this version instead! Can you email the recipe to me: reynieford@hotmail.com?? Thanks!

Coffee with Cathy said...

Yes, I can smell it! Looks yummy and the perfect winter supper to feed a hungry family. Thanks so much for sharing.

Coffee with Cathy said...

Yes, I can smell it! Looks yummy and the perfect winter supper to feed a hungry family. Thanks so much for sharing.

C and C Mommy said...

YES!! I want the recipe!!

My mom used to make a baked spaghetti with the leftover spaghetti....it was soooo good!!

This looks yummy!!

Anonymous said...

This looks FABULOUS!!!!

When you get a chance send it my way! ;)

Lula! said...

We make this all the time. In fact, I served it when my parents were here last week. It's Libbey's favorite. They prefer it to "regular" spaghetti.

Delish...

koopermom said...

This looks delicious! I must try it!!!

Teri said...

This sounds yummy. Would you please email me the recipe? Yummmmmy.

Putting the FUN in DysFUNctional said...

That looks & sounds delicious!

Laura // Elizabeth said...

I would love to have this recipe...
listle@shands.ufl.edu

Mrs4444 said...

VERY mouth watering...yum.

Nita said...

I made a version of this tonight with ground turkey and garlic and chive cream cheese (because that's what I had) and it was delicious! Thanks for the idea.

K said...

Please e-mail it to me karuthdv@gmail.com. It looks delicious! Thanks, Karen

Anonymous said...

We arent really sausage people so I'm making a boring old ground beef variety...but love the cream cheese idea!

Anonymous said...

I am also adding mushrooms and olives and diced tomatoes...we will see how this turns out.....I dont have onions or green pepper but the diced tomatoes have them in it.

Anonymous said...

Oh and even though i made it a more pizza-ish....I still couldnt stay out of the meat/cream cheese mixture. A friend of mine has a recipe with sausage and cream cheese and I think cheddar in the crockpot for scoops corn chips. YUM!

Unknown said...

This sounds wonderful. Plan to make it for a bunch of college students on a campus believer's Club.

Please send the printable recipe to: deborahstinson1775@gmail.com

Carolyn said...

Thank you so much for sharing this! My husband and I love it so much we argue over who gets the last of the left overs (if there are even left overs) I hope you don't mind my sharing at on my blog http://cookiesncows.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-best-baked-spaghetti-casserole.html

Unknown said...

I have been making this for several years now since I first found your recipe and it is always a favorite of anyone who tries it. This is hands down my youngest son’s favorite meal!