Baked Cream Cheese Spaghetti Casserole

Baked Cream Cheese Spaghetti Casserole – Creamy, Cheesy Comfort Food!

If you're craving something cozy, cheesy, and crowd-pleasing, this Baked Cream Cheese Spaghetti Casserole is everything your dinner dreams are made of. Think spaghetti meets baked ziti with a luscious twist! It’s the perfect comfort food casserole for busy weeknights, potlucks, or feeding hungry guests.

With its creamy base, flavorful marinara, and gooey cheese topping, this easy pasta bake is a guaranteed family favorite. Best of all? It’s super versatile—you can keep it vegetarian or load it up with sausage or ground beef.

 Equipment You’ll Need:

• Large pot (for boiling pasta)
• Large mixing bowl
• Skillet (if adding ground beef or sausage)
• 9x13" casserole baking dish
• Spatula or wooden spoon
• Oven

 Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Ultra creamy & cheesy—kid-approved comfort food
• Uses simple pantry staples
• Perfect for meal prep or freezer-friendly dinners
• Ready in under an hour
• Customizable with beef, sausage, or keep it meatless

 Ingredients:

• 8 oz spaghetti
• 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• ½ cup sour cream
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp Italian seasoning
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
• 1 cup cooked ground beef or sausage (optional)
• Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)

 Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Cook spaghetti according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
3. In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix until smooth and creamy.
4. Stir in marinara sauce and optional cooked beef or sausage.
5. Add the cooked spaghetti and half of the mozzarella cheese to the sauce. Toss to coat.
6. Pour mixture into a greased 9x13 casserole dish.
7. Top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
8. Bake for 25–30 minutes until bubbly and golden brown.
9. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
10. Serve hot and enjoy every creamy bite!

Tips & Variations:

• Swap spaghetti for penne or rotini for a heartier texture.
• Add spinach or sautéed mushrooms for extra nutrition.
• Use gluten-free pasta for a GF option.
• Double and freeze one pan for later—this casserole freezes beautifully!

>

Baked Cream Cheese Spaghetti Casserole

With its creamy base, flavorful marinara, and gooey cheese topping, this easy pasta bake is a guaranteed family favorite. Best of all

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• - 8 oz spaghetti
• - 8 oz cream cheese softened
• - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese divided
• - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• - ½ cup sour cream
• - ½ tsp garlic powder
• - ½ tsp Italian seasoning
• - ½ tsp salt
• - ¼ tsp black pepper
• - 24 oz jar marinara sauce
• - 1 cup cooked ground beef or sausage optional
• - Fresh parsley optional garnish

Equipment

• - Pot
• mixing bowl
• - Skillet (if using meat)
• baking dish
• Oven

Method

 

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Cook spaghetti until al dente. Drain and set aside.
3. In a bowl, mix cream cheese, sour cream, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
4. Stir in marinara and optional cooked meat.
5. Mix in spaghetti and half of mozzarella cheese.
6. Transfer to a greased 9x13 baking dish.
7. Top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.
8. Bake for 25–30 minutes or until bubbly and golden.
9. Let cool 5 minutes. Garnish with parsley. Serve hot!

Notes

- For extra spice, add red pepper flakes.
- Use full-fat dairy for richest flavor.
- Can be prepped a day ahead and baked fresh.