Get ready to join the craze because our viral oven-baked spaghetti that garnered over 100 million views across social media is definitely a keeper! Not only is it just as delicious as the traditional version, but it’s a huge time-saver in terms of both prep and cleanup. Just toss your ingredients in one dish and bake — no standing over the stove with this super easy recipe!

While we acknowledge that traditional Italian purists might raise an eyebrow at this method, we’re confident that anyone who values a hassle-free and speedy meal will fall head over heels for it! And if you’re not already sold on this super simple recipe, let’s just say that Food Network’s queen of Italian cuisine, Giada de Laurentiis, was enough of a fan that she posted her Food Dolls-inspired version on TikTok!

An oval baking dish of oven baked spaghetti.

We do love to make classic spaghetti on the stovetop. However, that is not the goal of this recipe.

The beauty of oven-baked spaghetti lies in its simplicity: toss your ingredients into a single baking dish and let the oven work its magic. It may not be the traditional way to make spaghetti, but it’s a tried and true method that lots of home cooks appreciate for its convenience, not to mention its delicious results!

Want to learn the history of a real oven baked spaghetti? Keep reading!

Oven-baked spaghetti is a dish that has been around for centuries. A simple and hearty meal, oven-baked spaghetti combines the best of two worlds: pasta and sauce!

This dish has many variations across the globe, with some styles using more tomatoes than others. In this blog post, we explore oven-baked spaghetti in-depth. Discover types of oven-baked spaghetti (including sauces!), the history of the dish, and our own complete recipe!

Oven-Baking Spaghetti: The History

Neapolitan chefs created the recipe in Naples in the 1700s. However, it quickly spread throughout Europe and America during WWII largely as a result of limited food supplies.

In the early 19th century, Italian immigrants from Sicily arrived in New York City. They brought with them many types of traditional dishes; including, oven baked spaghetti.

Many iterations of the recipe became popular. For instance, a popular option features bread crumbs in place of pasta dough. However, this dish became particularly popular among Italians living abroad. It served as a great way to keep their culture alive even from across the globe!

Ingredients You Need

Below is an overview of the ingredients and instructions for this recipe. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the complete details and nutrition information! 

  • Spaghetti – Use your favorite spaghetti noodles, and opt for gluten-free varieties to keep this recipe gluten-free-friendly. 
  • Pasta Sauce – You’ll need a high-quality red pasta sauce. For the best results, we highly recommend creating a homemade marinara sauce
  • Seasonings – Incorporate dried oregano or Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper for added flavor. Feel free to add a dash of red pepper flakes for a bit of heat, too!
  • Aromatics – Freshly minced garlic and white or yellow onion add elements of savory, slightly sweet flavor to the dish. 
  • Oil – We recommend using a high-quality olive oil, but avocado oil would also work. 
  • Cheese – Freshly grated parmesan cheese adds extra depth with a layer of nutty, savory flavor.
Ingredients to make oven baked spaghetti.

Different Ways of Making It

The most basic oven-baked spaghetti recipe includes cooked pasta tossed in a tomato sauce. It features flavor enhancers like onion, garlic, salt, pepper, oregano, or basil. Cheese is also a common addition but you can leave it out depending on preference.

For example, some oven-baked spaghetti recipes include parmesan cheese. Meanwhile, others top the dish off with mozzarella after cooking!

You can also make oven-baked spaghetti using different variations of sauces. For example, pesto (oven-baked pesto), alfredo, or even oven-baked spaghetti with meatballs are all great options!

Different countries across Europe have their own signature style of oven-baked spaghetti. They typically reflect that country’s cuisine. Italian spaghetti tends to use more tomato sauce than other countries. However, French spaghetti features a creamy sauce.

You can even mix in protein! Try cooking lean ground beef, Italian sausage, ground turkey, or ground chicken in a large skillet. Then, use it to create a savory meat sauce to make this meal even more filling. 

What About Making Sauce From Scratch?

Making your sauce from scratch can add a nice touch to oven-baked spaghetti and also adds extra flavor!

For example, you could make an onion or garlic base for your sauce before adding any other ingredients. Just be sure to let the sauce cook for a good amount of time so that all the flavors have time to combine!

Making sauce for oven-baked spaghetti can help you reduce the amount of preservatives and sodium in your meal. Try making sauces from scratch using ingredients like whole tomatoes, fresh basil, olive oil, or even tomato paste!

How to Make Viral Baked Spaghetti Casserole

Before you begin, set your oven to preheat. 

  1. Combine. Add all the ingredients except for the cheese to a large baking dish, and stir to combine and coat. 
  2. Bake. Cover and bake until the noodles are al dente. 
  3. Rest. Uncover the dish, and allow the dish to rest. Then, stir the ingredients. 
  4. Bake again. Top the spaghetti with the mozzarella cheese and bake again until the cheese melts and is bubbly. Enjoy! 
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Can Oven-Baked Spaghetti Be Healthy?

Spaghetti is fairly healthy when prepared with simple ingredients and cooking methods! As always, the ingredients included affect the nutritional makeup of the dish.

For example, oven-baked pasta with a lot of vegetables and lean meats is a fairly healthy dish. Meanwhile, oven-baked pasta with processed foods like cheese or meat products is substantially less nutritious. That being said, this type of meal is better for you than a pizza! 

Is It an Easy Dish To Make?

This recipe is relatively easy to make. You just need to follow some key steps to ensure the best results.

For example, mixing in enough sauce can be difficult without making a mess. So, it may require using more than one bowl or plate throughout the cooking process.

We also recommend lining your baking pan with aluminum foil before putting down any of the ingredients. This allows for easier clean-up afterward.

Cheesy baked spaghetti in an oval baking dish.

How to Store

Cover the cooked spaghetti dish with plastic wrap. Or, transfer leftovers to an airtight container. Store it in the fridge for up to three to four days

Reheat in the oven or microwave just until heated through. Add a splash of broth to freshen the dish back up if it becomes too dry!

Is It an Easy Dish To Make?

It is a dish that is relatively easy to make. However, if you want the best oven-baked pasta possible it is important to follow some key steps.

First, use multiple bowls or a very large bowl to mix everything to make sure you have enough room to mix in the sauce. Also, try lining your baking pan with aluminum foil so that cleanup is a breeze.

A fork lifting a bite of oven baked spaghetti on a plate.

Let Us Know How It Goes and Enjoy Your Spaghetti!

We’ve given you a glimpse into the backstory and variations of oven-baked spaghetti, and we’re thrilled to share our own recipe with you! It’s got that Italian flair while embracing the convenience of oven baking. We hope you savor every bite!

Be sure to hit us up with any questions or comments in the comment section below!

More Spaghetti Recipes To Try

If you’re as in love with easy pasta dishes as we are, you’re going to adore these mouthwatering recipes!

An oval baking dish full of oven baked spaghetti.

Oven Baked Spaghetti

4.65 from 59 votes
Author: Food Dolls
Servings: 8 servings
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 50 minutes
Total: 1 hour
No boiling required with this oven baked spaghetti! Easy weeknight dinner!

Ingredients  

  • 16 ounces spaghetti uncooked
  • 16 ounces jar pasta sauce
  • 3 cups water
  • 1 teaspoon oregano or italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon salt more or less to taste
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper more or less to taste
  • 5 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 onion sliced thin
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Add all the ingredients except for the mozzarella cheese to a large baking dish. Stir well.
    16 ounces spaghetti, 16 ounces jar pasta sauce, 3 cups water, 1 teaspoon oregano or italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, 5 cloves garlic, 1 onion, 2 Tablespoons olive oil
    Ingredients for oven baked spaghetti in an oval baking dish.
  • Cover and bake for 45 minutes. Remove from the oven about 20-25 minutes in and give it a stir. *Be sure not to skip this step.
    Baked spaghetti in an oval baking dish.
  • Top with mozzarella cheese and bake uncovered for an additional 8-10 minutes or until cheese is bubbly!
    1 cup mozzarella cheese
    Oven baked spaghetti topped with cheese.

Video

Equipment

Notes

This is made in an approximately 11×7 baking dish, similar to this baking dish found here.
If you want to add ground beef, you can add cooked ground beef before baking it in the oven.
We have seen so many use vegan cheese for a non-dairy version, and everyone that has tried it, raves about it!
We slice the onions are sliced pretty big, but you can always chop them, or keep them out. They get cooked down and end up being really tender. It doesn’t end up being crunchy and chunky onions.
For a flavor booster, substitute broth for water.
Can you use gluten-free pasta for this recipe? Yes, you can use gluten-free pasta. However, you will have to adjust the liquid. For chickpea pasta it tends to be more delicate so careful not to add too much liquid or it will get mushy.
Reheating leftovers: To reheat you want to add a splash of water, milk, or broth. Give it a little stir and microwave. The starch from the pasta really thickens it up, so you want to add a liquid in order to loosen it up a bit.
Here is another version of this baked spaghetti Baked Spaghetti Bolognese! 

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 306kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 656mg | Potassium: 340mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 346IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 105mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Like this recipe?Please leave a comment!

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Meet Alia & Radwa

Welcome to Food Dolls! We’re so glad you found us. We are Alia and Radwa, sisters who want to share simple and easy recipes with you. We hope you find recipes here that you enjoy making as much as we do! Learn more about us!

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Recipe Rating




177 Comments

  1. Can I substitute canola oil for the olive oil or do u think it would change the flavor? I’m currently out of olive oil and want to make this for dnner tonight. 🙂

  2. 5 stars
    I’ve been making spaghetti wrong for 50 years! This is soooo good! I’m making this my default pasta dish forever. I only had a 25oz jar of sauce. Used the whole thing, then used the jar for the water. That’s close enough to 3 cups. So easy. I added a bag of turkey meatballs I had in the freezer, chopped ’em. up. I wasn’t confident, but I went ahead with your recipe . I did not expect it to turn out so well. I would serve this to any guest in my home. It looks amazing! I think there are a whole lot of different spaghetti dishes I could make using this basic recipe……my mind is reeling with possibilites. Thank so much for sharing this! I will definitely look at your other recipes after this.

  3. 5 stars
    Delicious dish. I really like the simplicity and versatility of this baked spaghetti . Looking forward to trying it out for the grandkids!!

  4. 5 stars
    This is fantastic! I will never make spaghetti the traditional way again. So much more flavor and zest! Have tried several variations and love them all.

  5. 5 stars
    I’m making this recipe right now! Again! My family and I love it!! Thank you for posting it!! Definitely a keeper!!

  6. Looks delicious! 2 questions:
    1.) After the stir at 20-25 minutes, do you cook it more before adding the cheese?
    3.) Can you stir in some ricotta along with the mozzarella?

    Thanks!

    1. Yes!
      1. Stir at 20 minutes
      2. At 45 minutes add cheese and re bake.
      3. Yes, you can definitely stir in ricotta cheese before topping it with the mozzarella cheese.

    1. We’ve never tried it in the slow cooker! If you give it a try, make sure to stir it a few times to make sure the pasta does not stick together!

  7. Great recipe. However, halfway through baking 25 min. The noodles were still hard not even close to the video from above.
    Had to bake an additional 10 mins then it was good. Thanks

    1. You can add some diced colored peppers, and/or mushrooms with the onions. You can also mix in some cooked broccoli or peas before you add the cheese!

  8. I’m going to try this recipe tonight for my kids. Can I add cooked hamburger meat to this recipe and if so, at what point do I add it in the process?

  9. 5 stars
    This is a weekly dish I make now. I scrolled to find this recipe again and leave a review because this is an AMAZING meal. I sometimes pair it with filets from Chick-fil-A when I make it for friends. Makes the most delicious sauce since it uses all the pasta water to help make it.

  10. 5 stars
    This is delicious!! I cut the recipe in half– using 1/2 a box of Barilla Plus chickpea based Bowtie pasta. I found that I did need to add a whole jar of sauce, and cook for about 20 minutes longer. The extra time was worth it! This is absolutely delicious, and I love that I only had one dish to wash! Will definitely be making again! Thank you for the delicious recipe. 🙂

  11. 5 stars
    As I’m fond of saying, SWEET BABY JESUS IN A CROCKPOT! This recipe is DA BOMB!! I added cooked chicken chunks and wondered if I needed to season them – no need. The combination of ingredients is a perfect blend of flavors that will make you slap anyone in your family with an Italian heritage. This has zoomed up the chart of my favorite recipes to make!!

      1. The recipe calls for covering this for baking, but the dish in your link doesn’t have a cover. Did you use aluminum foil? I don’t have a dish with a cover. Thanks

  12. 4 stars
    Made this recipe using whole wheat spaghetti and Italian sausage. Did not read reviews before making and ended up using a whole jar (24 oz) of pasta sauce and 5.5-6 cups of water (started with 3, then added more at the first 20 min turn). It cooked in same amount of time. Turned out good, flavorful but extremely dense. Loved the fact that don’t have to make the noodles, then bake (I always cave and eat before baking). Next time will try half the amount of whole wheat with directed amount of water or do regular noodles.

    1. Yes, you can definitely make it in a 13×9. this recipe serves about 6-8 people (Depending on hunger level :)) if you want it to serve 10, we recommend making a batch + 1/4 or 1/2 so up all the ingredients. Hope this helps!