This Southern baked spaghetti casserole is unlike traditional Italian versions because there is no Mozzarella. Instead, layers of Monterey Jack cheese, cheddar cheese, and pepperoni are added. The trio combination, along with a HOMEMADE meat sauce creates an incredibly wicked good, cheesy pasta dish.
"I tried this recipe and it is sooo good. It has now become my favorite baked spaghetti!!"
★★★★★- April
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🔍 Quick Look: Baked Spaghetti Recipe
⏱️ Prep Time: 20 minutes
⏲️ Cook Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
👥 Servings: 10
📊 Calories: 686 per serving
🍝 Main Ingredients: Ground beef, spaghetti, homemade meat sauce, Monterey Jack cheese, cheddar cheese, pepperoni
❄️ Make Ahead: Yes
⭐ Difficulty: Easy
❤️ You Will Love: Homemade meat sauce, gooey cheese, and pepperoni topping.
A Note from my Kitchen
They say, "It's all about the sauce." I say, "It is all about the sauce and the cheese!"
I've been making this Southern baked spaghetti casserole for years, tweaking the recipe until it became just right. The rich homemade meat sauce, layers of gooey Monterey Jack and cheddar cheese, and crispy pepperoni topping come together to create the ultimate comfort food.
I like to serve it with a warm loaf of garlic bread, a crisp Italian salad tossed with my Copy Cat Olive Garden Salad dressing, and a tall glass of Southern sweet tea. For dessert, my easy Southern banana pudding or Chocolate Cherry Sheet Cake is the perfect finishing touch.
This is the kind of hearty, homemade meal that brings everyone to the table and always has people coming back for seconds. I hope your family enjoys it as much as mine does. Xoxo -Katie.
Ingredient notes and substitutions
You will need the following ingredients to make this homemade baked spaghetti:
- canned diced tomatoes
- tomato sauce- I recommend plain tomato sauce without the Italian seasoning because you'll season the sauce yourself.
- ground beef- 85/15 or 90/10 blend works best. You can substitute with ground chicken or ground turkey.
- Monterrey Jack cheese-freshly grated
- garlic-garlic powder or crushed garlic
- salt
- pepperoni- Regular pepperoni or turkey pepperoni work great for this casserole.
- spaghetti- You can substitute with angle hair pasta. My husband prefers the angle hair pasta, and I prefer the traditional spaghetti noodles.
- black pepper
- bell pepper- I recommend green bell pepper, but you can substitute with yellow or red bell pepper.
- brown sugar- Balances the acidity of tomatoes without making the sauce sweet.
- onion-You can substitute with onion powder.
- cheddar cheese- Freshly shredded cheese melts better than the pre-shedded packages.
- basil-fresh or dried
- celery salt- or celery seasoning
- Italian seasoning
- oregano-fresh or dried
*Full recipe with complete ingredient measurements are in the recipe card at the end of the post.
Steps to make baked spaghetti casserole
Follow easy steps on how to make baked spaghetti casserole:
- In a large stock pot, cook tomatoes, tomato sauce, onion, bell pepper, garlic, basil, Italian seasoning, oregano, celery salt, salt, pepper, and brown sugar at medium heat and bring to a boil.
- Cover, then reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes.
- In a separate skillet, crumble and cook ground beef.
- Add ground beef and water to stock pot, and cook an additional 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook pasta noodles according to directions.
- In large 13x9 in pan lightly cover pan with meat sauce. About a ½ cup.
- Add ½ pasta noodles. Layer half of meat sauce. Layer remaining meat sauce.
- Layer Monterey Jack cheese.
- Layer remaining pasta noodles. Layer remaining meat sauce.
- Layer Cheddar Cheese.
- Finish with a layer of pepperoni, because why not? Pepperoni really makes this dish WICKED GOOD!
- Bake 30 minutes until cheese is completely melted and pepperoni is crispy.
Watch how to make
Cooking Tips
- Simmering the sauce develops deeper flavor.
- Don't over cook the pasta because it continues cooking in the oven.
- Let the spaghetti casserole rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing.
- Fresh shredded cheese melts better.
- Cover with foil if the pepperoni browns too quickly.
Meat Sauce Tips
- I add the homemade sauce to the bottom of the 13x9 baking pan before adding the pasta. This keeps the pasta from sticking to the pan and drying out.
- Don't cut corners and buy premade jar sauce. It isn't the same and it won't be as good. I promise it is worth the effort to make your own sauce.
Can you freeze spaghetti?
You can easily freeze spaghetti.
The best way to freeze this spaghetti casserole recipe is to follow the instructions until it is time to bake in the oven. From there, cover it tightly with saran wrap and then a layer of tinfoil.This will protect it better from freezer burn. Thaw it out completely, then bake according to directions.
If you have already baked it, you can freeze the leftovers in a freezer container, thaw, and reheat it when you are ready to eat.
Please leave me a comment below if you make this baked spaghetti and tell me what you thought about it. I would love to hear back, and so would my readers.
Also post your picture of your spaghetti casserole on Instagram or Facebook, and tag @aforkstale with #aforkstale hashtags! I will share with my followers! xoxo!
📖 Recipe
Southern Baked Spaghetti Recipe- Spaghetti Casserole
Ingredients
- 28 ounces can diced tomatoes
- 28 ounces can tomato sauce
- 1 small onion chopped
- 1 bell pepper chopped
- 2 garlic cloves crushed
- ½ teaspoon basil
- ½ teaspoon italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon celery salt
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- ½ cup water
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 8 ounces cheddar cheese shredded
- 8 ounces Monterey jack cheese, shredded
- 8 ounces sliced pepperoni
- 12 ounces box of spaghetti or angel hair pasta
Instructions
- In a large stock pot, cook tomatoes, tomato sauce, onion, bell pepper, garlic, basil, Italian seasoning, oregano, celery salt, salt, pepper, and brown sugar at medium heat and bring to a boil.28 ounces can diced tomatoes, 28 ounces can tomato sauce, 1 small onion, 1 bell pepper, 2 garlic cloves, ½ teaspoon basil, ½ teaspoon italian seasoning, ½ teaspoon oregano, ½ teaspoon celery salt, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper, 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes
- In a separate skillet, crumble and cook ground beef.2 pounds ground beef
- Add ground beef and water to tomato sauce, and cook an additional 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook spaghetti noodles according to directions. Do not overcook pasta because it continues to cook in the oven.12 ounces box of spaghetti or angel hair pasta
- In large 13x9 in pan lightly cover pan with meat sauce. About a ½ cup.
- Add ½ pasta noodles. Layer half of meat sauce.
- Layer Monterey Jack cheese.8 ounces Monterey jack cheese,
- Layer remaining pasta noodles. Layer remaining meat sauce. Layer Cheddar Cheese. Cover cheese with pepperoni slices.
- Layer Cheddar Cheese.8 ounces cheddar cheese
- Cover cheese with pepperoni slices.8 ounces sliced pepperoni
- Bake in oven for 30 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly, and pepperoni is crispy.
Marie Munday says
I have leftover fettuccine. Can I use that instead of spaghetti? Thank you!
Katie Crenshaw says
Yes! It will just have a different texture, but I can't imagine it not being just as delicious.
Journa Liz Ramirez says
Never thought that it could be this good without mozzarella. I added this to my Holiday go-to recipe. My whole family loved it!
Lisa says
Mmmmmnnn, so good! I love how the pepperoni gets slightly crispy on top.
Moop Brown says
Never would've thought to make spaghetti into a casserole so I'm definitely gonna have to try this recipe. I like that it can be frozen for later too.
Adriana says
What a lovely idea for feeding a crowd. Now that the holidays are to start having recipes like this is so helpful. Cannot wait to make it!
Ann says
I love a delicious baked spaghetti recipe! They are great to make extras, and freeze. I plan on making your recipe tonight for dinner!
Laura Arteaga says
Great recipe for the whole family. The step-by-step pictures helped us to follow the recipe easily. Thank you!
Lauren Michael Harris says
Someone made us a spaghetti casserole when we had our son and it was so good that I wanted to look for a similar recipe. This is it! Loved the flavor - will make again!!
Dennis says
Nothing beats a good spaghetti casserole! it had been years since I had one and your recipe was every bit as good if not better than ones I remember from my time in the south