Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tablespoon olive oil plus an additional 2-3 teaspoons for coating
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1½ teaspoons italian seasoning blend
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 3 cups jarred marinara sauce
- ½ pound spaghetti noodles
- 8 ounces block style cream cheese, cubed
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ cup finely shredded parmesan cheese
- 8 ounces block whole-milk mozzarella cheese, shredded
- Fresh parsley, finely chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick oil spray and set aside.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil. Add the ground beef, ½ teaspoon of italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 5-6 minutes until the meat is browned. Drain excess fat.
- Stir in the marinara sauce with the cooked ground beef. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes while cooking the pasta.
- In boiling salted water, cook the spaghetti noodles for 9-11 minutes until al dente, according to package instructions. Drain the pasta, then transfer to a bowl.
- Mix in the cream cheese, remaining 1 teaspoon of italian seasoning, and garlic powder into the pasta until smooth. If the pasta sticks, use 2-3 teaspoons of olive oil to help mix.
- Spread 1 cup of the meat sauce on the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Layer the coated spaghetti noodles on top and cover with the remaining meat sauce.
- Sprinkle parmesan and shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the dish.
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 15 minutes, then remove the foil and continue to bake for another 15 minutes until the cheese is melted and golden.
- Allow to cool for 5 minutes before garnishing with chopped fresh parsley and serving.
Notes
Feel free to substitute ground beef with ground turkey or chicken for a lighter option.
Add veggies like bell peppers or mushrooms to the meat sauce for extra nutrition.
Make sure to use room temperature cream cheese for easier mixing.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
