Spaghetti is one of the most universally loved pasta dishes. It’s tasty, satisfying, and customizable. For kids, it can be fun to eat, but it can also be messy! While traditional spaghetti is always one of our favorites, a spaghetti bake can be just as delicious while adding new flavors and textures to the classic dish. If you have a taste for spaghetti but want to try something a little different, check out these spaghetti pasta bake recipes.
1. Spaghetti Pasta Bake
If you are unfamiliar with pasta bakes, this is a great place to start. This is a simple recipe with a savory beef ragout and layers of creamy cheese sauce. If you’ve ever cooked ground beef in a skillet or boiled pasta noodles, you’re pretty much ready to put this together with just a few extra steps. The cream cheese, ricotta, and mozzarella mixture provide a mellow, cool flavor that perfectly complements the pungent, nutty flavor of the Parmigiano Reggiano that gets sprinkled on before baking. If you want to emulate the traditional spaghetti and meatball flavor, try this one with a 1:1 mixture of ground beef and ground pork. You’ll be amazed at just how great this dish tastes and surprised by the new textures created by this method.
Get the full recipe and directions a here
2. Baked Cream Cheese Spaghetti
If you’re looking for a light dish, this isn’t it. But there’s no reason to feel guilty when you indulge in this mouthwatering calorie bomb. This is definitely a treat meal, with a velvety base composed of cream cheese, sour cream, cheddar, and Monterey Jack cheese. The sweetness of the tomatoes helps balance out the richness of the cheese sauce, and the ground beef cooked with onion adds a savory, meaty punch. If you don’t eat meat, or just want to make this a little bit lighter, you could substitute mushrooms, zucchini, or a mix of both for the ground beef. Either way, you’ll be jumping for joy the second you take a bite of this amazing baked spaghetti.
Get the full recipe and directions at Damn Delicious.
3. Jamie Oliver’s Carbonara Cake
It’s pretty much impossible to be disappointed by a Jamie Oliver dish, and this Carbonara Cake is no exception. You won’t confuse this with an authentic Italian carbonara, but we won’t tell your Roman grandmother. The crunchy outer “shell” provides an excellent contrast to the luxurious, creamy interior which is loaded with Parmesan, cheddar, and gruyere cheese. The eggs and smoked ham round out the dish for an updated take on a classic that you’ll never forget! While any smoked ham – or even bacon – will work, pancetta is the traditional choice and our favorite for this dish. If you’ve got carbonara on your mind but want to try something new, give this pasta bake a try soon!
Get the full recipe and directions at JamieOliver.com.
4. Meatless Baked Spaghetti
We don’t want to exclude vegetarians from the joy of spaghetti bakes, and this meatless dish is a crowd-pleaser for any dietary persuasion! By using eggs, you get a flavor and texture that is similar to carbonara, but a little lighter thanks to the lack of pancetta. If you want the smokiness without using meat, you could always add a little smoked paprika to spice the mix. One of the reasons we love this spaghetti bake is that it is easily customizable. You can always add meat if you want, and you can even leave the eggs out and use a cashew-based sauce and nutritional yeast if you want this to be completely free of animal products.
Find the full recipe and directions at Create Kid’s Club.
5. Spaghetti Cake
Although this spaghetti cake is plenty satisfying, it still feels light and airy, so it’s a great summer dish for cookouts. This is helped by the addition of sweet, blistered cherry tomatoes and wilted baby spinach. At least you’ll be getting your veggies in while enjoying this carbalicious pasta bake! The mix of crème Fraiche and heavy cream makes for a tangy, velvety base, while the bacon gives the meal a smoky, unctuous flavor. Because this holds together like a cake, giving the dish its name, it’s easier to eat than a standard, loose spaghetti dish. So, whether you’re sitting at a formal dinner or eating off a paper plate at a summer pool party, you’ll be able to enjoy this spaghetti dish without worrying about dirtying your nice white shirt.
Get the full recipe and directions at Tesco Real Food.
6. Low Carb Spaghetti Pasta Bake (Keto)
If you’re working on a low carb or keto diet, you may be disappointed that you can’t partake in a nice, tasty spaghetti bake. But don’t worry – we would never leave you out of our pasta enjoyment! This keto-friendly recipe uses Japanese noodles known as Shirataki noodles, which means “miracle” noodles. They are not only low carb, but also gluten-free! Made out of the konjac yam, they are incredibly flavorful and provide a texture so similar to real noodles that you won’t be missing the wheat version at all! Using these as the base and adding cheese and beef or turkey makes for a great low-carb, high protein meal that will perfectly round out any healthy week.
Get the full recipe and directions at My Crash Test Life.
7. Weight Watchers Spaghetti Bake
This is another low-calorie meal that manages to offer plenty in the flavor department. Weight Watchers has long been a favorite for those on a diet, and this spaghetti dish will impress even the most diligent calorie counters. It makes a lean beef ragout and uses low-fat cheeses to keep the calories down but adds plenty of seasoning to make sure the dish isn’t lacking in flavor. Like many of the previous bakes, this is easily customized, and you could use ground turkey or even vegan meat if you prefer. No matter what you choose, you’ll be very happy with the flavors, and you won’t feel heavy afterward.
Get the full recipe and directions here
Whether you’re looking to use up leftover spaghetti or just want to whip up a quick weeknight dinner, spaghetti pasta bakes are my go-to recipe. And because the flavor profiles are so versatile feel free to customize with your favorite ingredients!
If you like this post, we think you’ll really like our Pasta Cake Recipes post.
