I went through a comfort food phase last month where, despite the heat, all I wanted were piping hot casseroles and soups. Plain Chicken to the rescue, yet again! This is one of the things which satisfied my craving for comfort food. I resisted every temptation to change the recipe, except for using reduced fat cream cheese in place of regular, and while I will say there are some things I’d do different next time (as noted below), this was just so stinkin’ good. Creamy pasta, topped with an easy meat sauce and Parmesan cheese. Just. so. good.
Baked Cream Cheese Spaghetti Casserole
Printable recipe
Printable recipe with picture
12 oz spaghetti
1 (28 oz) jar prepared spaghetti sauce
1 lb. lean ground beef
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 clove garlic, minced
8 ounces reduced fat cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
Preheat oven to 350 F degrees.
In a skillet, brown the ground beef until cooked through; drain fat and stir in spaghetti sauce. Set aside.
Cook spaghetti according to directions on packet. Drain and place cooked spaghetti in bowl. Add cream cheese, Italian Seasoning and minced garlic. Stir until cream cheese is melted and the spaghetti is thoroughly coated.
Lightly grease a 9×13″ pan. Spread a small amount of meat sauce in the bottom of the dish. Put spaghetti on top of sauce and top with remaining meat sauce. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top.
Bake for 30 minutes, until bubbly.
*Veronica’s note: I would suggest covering your dish with foil while baking to prevent the cheese and spaghetti drying out like mine did. Also, you might reserve some pasta water to add in when you mix in the cream cheese – it is quite thick and dry and I think some extra moisture would make it creamier. I also plan to use more sauce next time – maybe up to even two jars. What can I say, I like the sauce. :)
Recipe source: Plain Chicken
Veronica's Cornucopia 
Looking good Veronica!
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Yum! Super easy too! Thanks
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Pure comfort in a casserole – love it!
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This looks delicious!!! =) Spaghetti and Casserole..spells yummy!
Pinning to save!
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Yes. This is definitely beautiful beautiful comfort food!
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A super comfort dish, Veronica.
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Hot, creamy, saucy, and meaty, you say? Yes too all of it! I love the addition of cream cheese (I’m always looking for any reason to eat it). Hope you and baby are great, V!!!!
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I.WANT.SOME!!!!!!!! That looks fabulous. I’ve made something similar, but didn’t think to add the cream cheese. What’s wrong with me??? ;-} Being the cream cheese lover I am…and my hubby being the spaghetti lover he is…this is going to be on our table, and soon. Thanks so much for sharing….Sister of Shared Taste Buds. =)
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this dish has my name written allll over it! cream cheese & spaghetti? sign me up!
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I was just wanting some dishes to make ahead and freeze (now that school has started). This is perfect! Thank you.
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look so tempting!
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I somehow missed this and was looking for a dish to use my cream cheese in. Totally pinning this one! I have a package of venison burger to use up also :)
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This is simply comfort food. So comforting that I would end up in a food coma after eating a few scoops of this.
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I love Plain Chicken’s blog too! So many good recipes! But would ya know I’m not much of a spaghetti fan? I know, I’m crazy. I’ve heard it many times lol. Maybe I’d prefer it in casserole form. I’ll have to try this!
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