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Baked Spaghetti and Meatballs

A hearty and comforting oven-baked pasta dish featuring tender spaghetti, rich marinara sauce, savory meatballs, and a golden, melted cheese topping.
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Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Keyword: baked spaghetti meatballs
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • Roughly 1½ dozen fully cooked homemade meatballs
  • One 24-ounce container of marinara sauce either prepared from scratch or your preferred store-bought variety
  • Three-fourths pound of dry spaghetti pasta
  • One-half medium yellow onion finely chopped
  • Three garlic cloves crushed or minced
  • Two tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
  • One teaspoon of dried Italian herb blend
  • Between one and two cups of shredded cheese a combination of Colby-Jack and mozzarella is recommended
  • One-half cup of finely grated Parmesan cheese
  • Approximately one-half cup of reserved pasta cooking liquid

Instructions

  • Warm the olive oil in a large cast iron skillet (10 to 12 inches in diameter) over medium-low heat. Add the diced onion and cook until softened, stirring occasionally.
  • Incorporate the crushed garlic and continue to sauté until the onions are translucent and aromatic.
  • Stir in the cooked meatballs along with the marinara sauce and Italian seasoning. Allow the mixture to simmer gently on medium-low heat for approximately 20 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the spaghetti noodles slightly under the recommended time (about 2 minutes less than package directions). Reserve some of the pasta water before draining.
  • Using a slotted spoon, carefully lift the meatballs out of the sauce and set them aside temporarily.
  • Transfer the cooked pasta directly into the skillet containing the sauce, using a slotted spoon. Add about ½ cup of the reserved pasta water and stir gently to ensure the spaghetti is evenly coated in the sauce.
  • Return the meatballs to the skillet, arranging them over the spaghetti mixture.
  • Generously sprinkle the surface with the shredded cheese blend and grated Parmesan.
  • Place the skillet in a preheated oven at 350°F and bake for 20 to 30 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and the dish is bubbling hot throughout.
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