Paula Deen Baked Spaghetti Recipe
Pasta is the ultimate comfort food for many families. If you love cheese and hearty meals, you are in the right place. The Paula Deen Baked Spaghetti Recipe is a classic Southern dish that everyone enjoys.
Ingredients
- 1 pound dry spaghetti noodles
- 1.5 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 medium onion finely chopped
- 1 green bell pepper diced
- 2 cans 14.5 oz each diced tomatoes
- 1 can 15 oz tomato sauce
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
Boil the Pasta
- Fill a large pot with water and a pinch of salt. Bring it to a boil over high heat. Add the spaghetti and cook until firm. Drain the water and set the noodles aside for later.
Sauté the Vegetables
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and diced green peppers. Cook them until they are soft and smell delicious. This takes about five minutes.
Brown the Beef
- Add the ground beef to the skillet with the vegetables. Cook the meat until it is no longer pink. Drain any extra fat from the pan. This keeps the dish from being too oily.
Simmer the Sauce
- Stir in the diced tomatoes and the tomato sauce. Add the oregano, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Let the sauce simmer on low heat for ten minutes. The flavors will blend together perfectly.
Mix Pasta and Sauce
- Pour the cooked spaghetti noodles into the skillet with the meat sauce. Toss everything together until the noodles are well coated. Every strand should be covered in the tasty tomato mixture.
Layer the Dish
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray. Pour half of the spaghetti mixture into the dish. Spread it out evenly with a spoon.
Add the Cheese
- Sprinkle one cup of cheddar cheese over the first layer of pasta. Add the remaining spaghetti on top of the cheese. Finally, top the whole dish with the rest of the cheese.
Bake the Spaghetti
- Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil. Place it in the oven and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil for the last 10 minutes. This makes the cheese brown and bubbly.
Notes
- Use Fresh Cheese: Grate your own cheese from a block. It melts much better than the pre-shredded kind from the store.
- Add Spice: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce. This gives the dish a nice little kick.
- Veggie Boost: Stir in some mushrooms or spinach for extra nutrition. Kids usually won't even notice them in the sauce.
- Meat Options: You can use ground turkey or Italian sausage instead of beef. Sausage adds a lot of extra seasoning to the meal.
- Don't Overcook: Cook the pasta slightly under the package directions. It will finish softening while it bakes in the oven.