Description
TikTok Spaghetti is a comforting and indulgent casserole featuring layers of meaty red sauce and creamy Alfredo sauce combined with perfectly cooked spaghetti, topped with melted mozzarella cheese. This recipe blends savory ground beef with Italian seasoning, fresh vegetables, and rich cheeses for a crowd-pleasing pasta dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Red Sauce:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup onion, chopped
- 1/2 cup green bell pepper, ribs and seeds removed, chopped
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- 1 pound ground beef, 80/20
- 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning
- 1 1/2 (24-ounce) jars spaghetti sauce
Pasta:
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 16 ounces spaghetti
Alfredo Sauce:
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Prepare the Red Sauce: Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C) and spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Heat olive oil in a large 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and green bell pepper, sautéing until translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook an additional 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Cook the Ground Beef: Add ground beef to the skillet, cooking and crumbling until no pink remains. Drain excess grease to keep the sauce from being too oily.
- Add Seasonings and Sauce: Stir in salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and the spaghetti sauce. Reduce heat to low and keep sauce warm while preparing the pasta and Alfredo sauce.
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add spaghetti and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Make the Alfredo Sauce: In a separate pan, melt butter over low heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant. Sprinkle flour over the garlic and butter, stirring constantly for 1 minute to form a roux.
- Combine Cream and Cheese: Remove from heat and whisk in heavy cream until the mixture is smooth. Return to heat and stir in parmesan cheese, gently heating until the cheese fully melts and the sauce thickens slightly.
- Toss Pasta with Alfredo Sauce: Add the drained pasta to the Alfredo sauce and toss well to coat every strand evenly. Spread this coated pasta in an even layer in the prepared baking dish.
- Layer the Red Sauce: Carefully spoon the red meat sauce over the pasta layer, without mixing the layers together to maintain the distinct flavors.
- Top and Bake: Sprinkle mozzarella cheese evenly over the red sauce layer. Bake the casserole uncovered in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve: Let the casserole cool for 10 minutes after baking. Garnish with fresh parsley and a sprinkle of dried Italian seasoning before serving.
Notes
- Use 80/20 ground beef for best flavor and juiciness.
- Drain excess grease from cooked ground beef to avoid a greasy sauce.
- Do not stir the red sauce and Alfredo sauce layers after assembling to keep the visual appeal and texture.
- Additional vegetables like mushrooms or zucchini can be added to the red sauce for extra nutrition.
- Letting the casserole rest after baking helps the layers set and makes serving easier.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Keywords: TikTok Spaghetti, baked spaghetti, creamy spaghetti casserole, cheesy pasta bake, Alfredo spaghetti, red sauce spaghetti, comfort food pasta
