Baked spaghetti with meatballs Recipe

Spaghetti with meatballs baked. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

​Spaghetti is one of the cheapest meals you can make—and I love it for that—but my family has become utterly sick of it! This “cost-effective” meal has become a waste of money, as 75% of it generally ends up in the trash…after a couple of days sitting in the fridge in quiet desperation.

So much for saving money, right?!

And then I brainstormed a way to ensure my poor spaghetti and meatballs got eaten…Add cheese and bake them in a casserole! 

This has been a game-changer! The ingredients are essentially all the same, with the addition of one ingredient— mozzarella cheese. 

It’s as simple as layering all the ingredients in a baking pan and cooking in the oven for 30-40 minutes. So here’s my simple (and cheap) Baked Spaghetti with Meatballs recipe…

Ingredients:

2 boxes cooked spaghetti (or pasta of choice)
3 jars sauce (your choice)
meatballs (I use frozen Italian seasoned)
shredded mozzarella cheese
parmesan cheese
Italian seasoning
garlic powder
pepper
garlic bread (opt)

Make pasta according to package directions. Pour cooked pasta into a greased baking pan.
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Boil pot of water. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

Pack of spaghetti. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

Boil the spaghetti. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

Grease a baking pan. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

Pour cooked spaghetti into greased pan. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

Top with layers of meatballs, sauce, parmesan cheese, garlic powder, mozzarella cheese, pepper, and Italian seasoning.

Layer meatballs on top of cooked spaghetti. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

Jar of spaghetti sauce. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

Pour spaghetti sauce over pasta and meatballs. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

Parmesan cheese. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

Sprinkle parmesan cheese over spaghetti, meatballs, and sauce. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

Spices. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

Shredded mozzarella cheese. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

Layer shredded mozzarella over pasta, meatballs, and sauce. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

Season dish before placing in oven. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

Bake at 400 degrees F for about 35 minutes, or until cheese is browned and meatballs are cooked. 

Serve with garlic bread, if desired.

Spaghetti and meatball baked dish finished. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

​Honestly, this couldn’t be a more simple recipe! And guess what? My family actually eats it! Spice it up with pepperoni, mushrooms, or any other topping you like. This dish can be as cheap or as elaborate as your budget allows...That’s what makes it so versatile! 

So give it a try and let me know how it went. Have a recipe tip of your own? Share it down below in the comments. And Bon Appetit!

​Related blogs you may want to read:
Festive vegetable bake recipe
Spicy crock pot chili recipe
Homemade chicken noodle soup recipe
Potato soup recipe
Tuna noodle casserole recipe
Chicken vegetable pot pie
Salmon chowder recipe
How to eat healthy with chicken and roasted vegetables

​This article may contain a few items or commercial mentions, but I only used them for demonstration purposes only. I am not endorsing any particular product or receiving any monetary gain for this blog.