Baked Spaghetti And Meatball Recipe
This baked spaghetti and meatball recipe combines tender spaghetti, rich marinara sauce, juicy Italian meatballs, and gooey mozzarella cheese. A hearty, family-friendly dish that's easy to prepare and perfect for any occasion.
5 Servings
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup onion finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- Pinch of red pepper flakes optional
- 4 cups marinara sauce homemade or store-bought
- 8 oz spaghetti broken in half
- 18 fully cooked Italian meatballs approximately 1 inch each
- 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
Instructions
Preheat Oven and Prepare Ingredients
- Preheat your oven to 375°F. Simultaneously, bring a large pot of water to a boil for the spaghetti.
Sauté Aromatics
- In an ovenproof skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the finely diced onion and cook until softened, approximately 3-4 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and red pepper flakes, if using, and cook for an additional minute.
Prepare Marinara Sauce
- Pour the marinara sauce into the skillet and bring it to a gentle boil. Reduce the heat to low and let the sauce simmer while preparing the pasta.
Cook the Spaghetti
- Break the spaghetti in half and cook it in the boiling water for 1-2 minutes less than the package instructions. This ensures it will not overcook when baked. Drain thoroughly.
Combine Pasta and Sauce
- Add the cooked spaghetti to the skillet with the marinara sauce. Toss gently to coat all strands evenly. Level the mixture in the skillet to create an even base.
Add Meatballs
- Nestle the meatballs into the spaghetti mixture, ensuring they are evenly spaced and partially visible on the surface.
Bake Covered
- Cover the skillet with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes.
Add Mozzarella and Finish Baking
- Remove the skillet from the oven and discard the aluminum foil. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top. Return the skillet to the oven, uncovered, and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and golden.
Serve
- Allow the dish to rest for 5 minutes before serving. Serve directly from the skillet or transfer to a serving dish.
Notes
To make this dish gluten-free:
- Use gluten-free spaghetti.
- Confirm that your marinara sauce is gluten-free by checking the label.
- Substitute regular meatballs with gluten-free options or make homemade meatballs using gluten-free breadcrumbs.