Baked Spasagna – lasagna and spaghetti in one! Baked pasta with mozzarella, ricotta, sour cream, half-and-half and parmesan. Topped with a quick meat sauce. SOOO good! Makes a great freezer meal too. Perfect for a potluck!
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Pin This RecipeThe BEST Baked Spaghetti
I came across this recipe for Baked Spasagna on the internet. The description said this was the recipe for a dish at the restaurant Cheddar’s. I’ve never been to (or heard of) Cheddar’s, but the recipes sounded delicious. I immediately added it to the weekly menu.
We both really liked this dish. It makes a ton. We made half of the recipe below and it was easily enough for 6 to 8 people. This would be a great dish for a potluck or any other time to need to feed a crowd.
How to Make Baked Spasagna
This was similar to my Baked Cream Cheese Spaghetti Casserole, but cheesier. It uses 2 pounds of mozzarella cheese. Yes, 2 pounds. I told you it was cheesier! It came together quickly. I mixed the cheese mixture up while the pasta cooked and finished the meat sauce off while the casserole was in the oven.
- Can use Italian sausage, breakfast sausage, ground beef, or ground turkey in this recipe.
- I used 2 pounds of shredded mozzarella cheese. Feel free to use an Italian cheese blend or provolone.
- Can I make Baked Spasagna Casserole ahead of time? Yes! You can make the casserole ahead of time and refrigerate. You may need to add a few minutes to the cooking time if baking straight from the refrigerator.
- Can I freeze Baked Spasagna Casserole? Yes! You can assemble the casserole and freeze for later.
- To bake casserole after freezing, thaw completely and bake as directed below.
- Can I half the recipe? Yes. You can make half of the recipe and bake it in a 9-inch baking dish. The cooking time would stay the same.
- This makes a lot of pasta. I sometimes divide the recipe into two pans and bake one and freeze one for later.
- I used a jar of store-bought spaghetti sauce. My favorite brands are Trader Joe’s Roasted Garlic Marinara (green label), Rao’s, or La Famiglia DelGrosso sauce.
- If you don’t like ricotta, you can try substituting cottage cheese.
What to Serve with Cheddar’s Baked Spasagna
This Baked Spasagna has quickly become a family favorite. It is super easy to make and everyone LOVES it. This is a very hearty dish so you don’t need very many side dishes to go with it. A simple salad and some garlic bread is perfect! Here are a few of our favorite recipes from the blog that go great with this cheesy spaghetti casserole:
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Baked Spasagna
Ingredients:
- 24- oz spaghetti
- 4 (8-oz) packages shredded mozzarella cheese (yes – 2 lb of cheese)
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1¼ cups half-and-half
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese, divided
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp basil
- ½ tsp pepper
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 (26-oz) jar spaghetti sauce
- 1 lb Italian sausage or ground beef
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350ºF.
- Cook spaghetti according to package directions, drain.
- In a large bowl, stir together sour cream, ricotta, half-and-half, mozzarella, oregano, basil, pepper, garlic, salt, and half the Parmesan cheese. Add spaghetti and toss until well coated.
- Pour spaghetti mixture into 9×13 pan lightly sprayed with cooking spray. Top spaghetti with remaining Parmesan cheese.
- Cover dish aluminum foil and bake 30 minutes.
- While pasta is baking, prepare meat sauce. Brown Italian sausage in skillet. Drain and return to skillet. Add spaghetti sauce and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Remove pasta from the oven. Cut into squares and top with meat sauce. Sprinkle with additional grated parmesan cheese.
Notes:
Steph
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I am planning on making this soon. Just wondering, if I half the recipe and make it in a 8X8 dish, should I decrease the cook time? Also, is it too cheesy? Thinking of using less cheese than the recipe calls for.
Oh my gosh, I have been looking for this recipe for for over a year. I made it once and everybody loved it and I lost the recipe. Thank you so much. Making it tonight!
I'm going to mix the spaghetti sauce in with everything else and bake it that way. I think it will turn out fine. Bought the ingredients the other day and can't wait to make it! I live alone, though, and have another casserole to finish before I make this one. I'm already certain I will love it!
Wow….this sounds really good! I like to find recipes that make a lot. This would feed a crowd or my 6'3", 235lb 14year old stepson! lol
We have Cheddars here but I have never been there. If they serve what you have here I may have to get my son to take me on my bday or mother's day lol. Looks scrumptious!!!
Ate the leftover noodle mixture with chicken parmesan tonight and it was a hit again! Just take chicken tenders, dip in egg wash and then grated parmesan and fry in some EVOO. Once it's done, let it simmer in spaghetti sauce and cover each chicken strip with mozzarella cheese!
Made this tonight and it was absolutely fantastic!!!! I only used a 16 oz package of spaghetti, and I didn't use all the mozzerella because it seemed a little thick. Next time I will make more meat and use 2 jars of sauce. But, this was a big hit with the hubby and my 10 year old. It makes ALOT though, so I may even split it in half next time, or make two 8×8 dishes, keep one and give one away or freeze it.
I am heading to Publix right now to get the ingredients.
Made this tonite, only used 6 cups mozzarella, then added 93/7% ground beef with the sausage for the sauce. I did use 2 (12 oz) boxes of "Smart" spaghetti. It was so delicious and everyone asked for the recipe. This is a keeper for sure. Thanks.
There is a new Cheddars in Dothan, AL! 🙂
This was great! Yum yum. I used 2 lbs of spaghetti and the cheese called for. Made a meat sauce with 2 jars of sauce and about a pound and a half of ground meat. Great hit with the crowd!
I love Cheddar's Spasagna! Can't wait to try this
I made this tonight, but I cut it down to 1 lb. of spaghetti, 2 C. of Moz. cheese, 1/4 C. sour cream and 3/4 C. 2% milk (instead of half and half). It was still really creamy. I also added 2 tsp. of crushed red pepper to my sauce. It gave it a nice zing.
Has anyone froze this?
Is this something you could make up and then freeze?
Are you SURE its 24oz spaghetti?? I made it according to the directions and needed a 9X13, and TWO 8X8's. That is a TON of spaghetti. There is no way you used that much spaghetti (2 boxes) in your picture.
I made half of the recipe and it fit in an 8×8 pan. I did use 12oz of spaghetti for the half recipe