Southern Baked Spaghetti
Ingredients:
1 pound spaghetti
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 small onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 (24-ounce) jar marinara sauce
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
1/2 cup sour cream
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the spaghetti until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until browned, breaking it apart as it cooks. Drain excess grease. Add the diced onion and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until softened. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
Season the meat with salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and paprika. Stir in the marinara sauce and drained diced tomatoes. Let simmer for 5 to 7 minutes.
In a bowl, mix together the sour cream and softened cream cheese until smooth.
Spread half of the cooked spaghetti into the prepared baking dish. Dollop half of the cream cheese mixture over the pasta and spread gently. Top with half of the meat sauce and sprinkle with half of the cheddar and mozzarella cheeses.
Repeat the layers with the remaining spaghetti, cream mixture, meat sauce, and cheese.
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until hot and bubbly with melted, golden cheese on top. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with fresh parsley if desired and serve warm for a hearty Southern comfort meal.
