Baked Cream Cheese Spaghetti Casserole

Do you have a big family? This Baked Cream Cheese Spaghetti Casserole is perfect! Serve with a side salad and garlic bread and you are good to go. If you're like me and all by yourself...you may find yourself eating this hefty casserole for several days. That is, if you don't have a sister or kids who are happy for you to share with.

Time wise: All in, you are looking at an hour for prep and baking if your cream cheese is room temp and you start cooking the pasta as the first step. I usually have everything I need to in the fridge, freezer and pantry so it's a great go-to dish when you can't figure out what to fix.

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. Everything will be cooked, you'll just need to get everything bubbling and melt the cheese topping.

INGREDIENTS:

1 lb. ground Italian Sausage (or ground beef)

1  small box of spaghetti (cooked and drained)

8 oz. block cream cheese, softened to room temperature

28 oz. jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 cup (or more) shredded mozzarella cheese 

1 clove minced garlic or coarse garlic salt

Italian seasoning (I used a tablespoon)

While your pasta is cooking, brown the ground Italian sausage. Drain any excess grease.
Stir in the jar of spaghetti sauce and set to the side.

After the pasta is drained, drop in the hot spaghetti, the block of cream cheese and spices.
*Hint: I place my cream cheese in a zip plastic bag in hot water to soften quickly.

Blend the cream cheese until all of the spaghetti is coated well.

Spoon half of the spaghetti sauce/meat mixture and spread over the bottom of the 9x13 baking dish.

Spread out all of the spaghetti/cream cheese mixture on top of the first layer of the meat sauce.

Top the spaghetti with the remaining meat sauce.

Evenly sprinkle the Parmesan cheese and shredded mozzarella cheese.  This is ready to bake!

 Bake the Cream Cheese Spaghetti Casserole until heated through and cheese has melted.

In my oven, that was around 30 minutes.

Cut a serving out like you would if you were eating lasagna and enjoy!