Baked Spaghetti

Recipe video above. It's your favourite Bolognese - in the form of a juicy pasta bake! Do a quick simmer - or go all out and slow cook for a couple of hours for a richer sauce and melt-in-your-mouth beef. **FREEZER BEAUTY!** Can even bake from frozen (see notes).

Prep time: PT15M

Cook time: PT90M

Total time: PT105M

Rating

5 stars (74 reviews)

Keywords

spaghetti bake, spaghetti casserole, spaghetti pie

Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil
3 garlic cloves (, minced)
1 onion (, finely chopped)
1 carrot (, finely diced (optional))
1 stick celery (, finely diced (optional))
750g / 1.5lb ground beef (mince)
3/4 cup (185ml) dry red wine ((or sub with water or beef broth/stock))
3 beef bouillon cubes (, crumbled (Note 1))
1.2kg / 2.4 lb crushed tomato (, canned)
1/4 cup tomato paste
1 - 3 tsp white sugar (, if needed (Note 2))
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
3 dried bay leaves
2 sprigs fresh thyme ((or 1/2 tsp dried thyme or oregano))
Salt and pepper
500g/ 1lb spaghetti
8 - 10 slices Swiss cheese ((or other type), enough for a layer)
2 cups (200g) mozzarella cheese, shredded

Cuisine

Western

Steps

Sauce:
- Heat oil in a large, heavy based pot over medium high heat.
- Add garlic and onion, cook 2 minutes.
- Add celery and carrot, cook 3 minutes.
- Turn heat up to high, add beef and cook, breaking it up as you go.
- Once beef is brown, add wine. Simmer rapidly for 2 minutes.
- Add remaining Sauce ingredients, stir.
- Bring to simmer, lower heat, cover with lid. Simmer for 45 minutes (minimum) or 1.5 - 2 hours (best!). 
- If liquid evaporates too much, add water - should be saucy (see video/pics). Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
Assemble & Bake:
- Preheat oven to 180C/350F.
- Cook pasta per packet directions, minus 1 minute.
- Drain, then return into pot.
- Add just over half the Sauce, toss.
- Spread half the pasta in a casserole pan, spread with half remaining Sauce.
- Top with cheese slices, then remaining pasta, remaining Sauce, finish with mozzarella.
- Cover loosely with foil (so cheese doesn't stick), bake 25 minutes.
- Remove foil (reserve), bake further 10 minutes than remove.
- Cover loosely with foil, stand 10 - 15 minutes. Then cut slices with a knife and use a spatula to serve pieces like lasagna!

Nutitrion

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 486 kcal
Carbohydrates: 51 g
Protein: 32 g
Fat: 15 g
Saturated Fat: 6 g
Cholesterol: 72 mg
Sodium: 690 mg
Sugar: 9 g

Reviews

Mariana on 2026-05-13 (5 stars):
this was a hit last night with my family. Each having several plated. Instead of crushed tomatoes i used passata and it worked well too.
SUSAN (SUE) Heddle on 2026-01-12 (5 stars):
I made this yesterday for last night's meal. Its definitely a keeper. Easy to follow recipe (which you probably only need the once,) and makes enough to have again for lunch the next day. Only 2 of us here so that's handy.
Megan on 2025-09-02 (5 stars):
This was amazing. Will be on high rotation.
Tanya Lagace on 2025-05-04 (5 stars):
I made this last night and it was super delicious. I didn't have mozzarella or swiss cheese slices, or any garlic or celery, but even using just tasty cheese, it was awesome. I added half a zucchini, diced up really small, too. My housemate had two big pieces, and I'm just waiting to get hungry again so I can have some more. I'll definitely make it again.
Wendeed on 2025-03-31 (5 stars):
Wow! This truly is epic! I’m not a keen fan of pasta but LOVED this - & so did my family. Using quality Italian tomatoes & quality beef stock base lifts this to another level - oh & did I mention Swiss cheese? - my absolute favourite 😉 I don’t know how you do it Nagi but please keep it up 😃
Jessica Ford on 2025-03-13 (5 stars):
Delicioius! My family loved it!
Katie on 2024-09-23 (5 stars):
I’ve made this multiple times and added chilli flakes, rosemary and Italian herbs to the onion/garlic cooking in oil. It’s absolutely delicious. Slow cooking the sauce for 2 hours makes the mince absolutely beautiful and fall apart. A real winner.
ANN on 2024-09-22 (5 stars):
This was excellent. I followed the directions exactly. My hubby wasn't thrilled when I said we were having baked spaghetti, but he loves this recipe! It is delicious. I love that it was enough I could freeze extra
Nicole L on 2024-09-01 (5 stars):
I cook often and my family said this is one of their favorite dishes I’ve ever made! Coming from kids, this is a big compliment ;) This is definitely a Sunday night type of meal because it takes time for the sauce to cook, then assemble and bake. If you’re looking for something faster, I’d recommend Nagi’s baked ziti recipe. Both are delicious!
Louise on 2024-07-09 (5 stars):
This is a big crowd pleaser, great dish to take when everyone is cooking a dish to provide at a gathering.
heebee22 on 2024-06-30 (5 stars):
I have probably reviewed this before as have been making this for years but I wanted to say another thank you to you Nagi because this remains my family's favourite winter dish of all time and we have never tired of this. It is so adaptable to whatever fresh herbs and veges I have and today's version has used finely chopped coriander, dill, and parsley stems and leaves, along with the carrots plus celery, baby capsicums, chillis, thyme, oregano and garlic for the sofrito. This dish has brought such joy and warmth along with nourishment to us for so long: it remains completely special each time!
Deb on 2024-06-05 (5 stars):
This is a great recipe. Sauce next level of delicious! My husband and I can't eat a whole pan. I froze the leftovers in portions for two. Heats up great. defrosted in the refrigerator and pop in the oven. Easy when you don't feel like cooking and making a big mess.
Kim B on 2024-04-08 (5 stars):
Very yummy! And versatile. Enjoyed making and eating this.
Anna Penton on 2024-04-05 (5 stars):
Absolutely delish! I simmered the sauce for 2 hours and it made such a difference. I didn’t have mozzarella so just used what I had… grated tasty and Parmesan. Still worked a treat. Thumbs up from the family too.
Carol C on 2024-01-30 (5 stars):
I made this for my church group & it was a hit! The sauce was delish!! Will definitely make it again, Thanks!
Victoria Passman on 2023-11-18 (5 stars):
10/10 recipe. A real crowd pleaser that is easy to make, if you have a little time to wait for it. ** the notes say it is a perfect freezer meal, but don’t say how long to cook in the oven from frozen. Exactly how long and what temp should you cook it for?
Kerry on 2023-11-09 (5 stars):
We love this! I make the sauce in the morning and assemble it in the afternoon and bake it in time for my kids to come home from school. It is always a hit! It holds well in the oven on a low temperature so my hubby can enjoy it nice and hot when he gets home later. In order to prevent the foil from sticking to the cheese you can spray the foil lightly with some cooking spray. Thanks for a super easy meal that only requires one dish to wash after it is served.