Description
Viral TikTok spaghetti combines creamy sauce with ground beef for a comforting meal. Cheese melts perfectly over this hearty pasta dish that home cooks adore and guests will request again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450g) spaghetti
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- Salt (for boiling)
Instructions
- Prepare a large pot of salted water and cook spaghetti until perfectly tender, approximately 8-10 minutes. Drain thoroughly and gently coat with olive oil to prevent sticking.
- In a skillet over medium-high heat, brown ground beef with finely chopped onions and minced garlic until meat is fully cooked and no longer pink. Drain excess fat if needed.
- Add marinara sauce to the meat mixture, incorporating oregano, basil, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Allow sauce to simmer and develop rich flavors for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Create creamy cheese blend by combining softened cream cheese, sour cream, shredded mozzarella, grated Parmesan, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until completely smooth and well-incorporated.
- Select a large baking dish and create first layer using half of the cooked spaghetti. Spread entire creamy cheese mixture evenly across pasta layer.
- Add remaining spaghetti on top of cheese layer, then carefully pour meat sauce across entire surface, ensuring complete coverage.
- Generously sprinkle additional mozzarella and Parmesan cheese over the top layer. Bake in preheated oven at 350°F for 20-25 minutes until cheese melts and edges become golden brown.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh chopped herbs before serving hot.
Notes
- Ensure pasta is perfectly al dente by tasting during cooking and removing from water just before fully cooked to prevent mushiness.
- Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based meat alternatives for healthier or vegetarian versions of the dish.
- Drain excess fat from meat after browning to reduce overall calorie content and prevent greasy sauce.
- Try additional herbs like fresh basil or thyme to enhance the flavor profile and add complexity to the sauce.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 265
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 5 mg
- Fat: 4.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3.6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 2.5 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg