This Baked Spaghetti is a comforting, crowd-pleasing dish layered with rich minced beef sauce, smoky bacon, creamy béchamel, and gooey mozzarella cheese. Perfect for family dinners or gatherings, this hearty meal is easy to prepare and packed with flavor. The golden, cheesy crust and tender spaghetti make it a recipe you’ll want to make again and again.
Preparation Time
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
Ingredients
For the Spaghetti:
- Water: Enough for boiling
- Salt: To taste
- Vegetable oil: 1 tablespoon
- Spaghetti: 300 g (10.5 oz) or about 3 cups (dry)
For the Meat Sauce:
- Bacon: 200 g (7 oz) or about 1½ cups, diced
- Red onion: 1 medium, finely chopped
- Garlic: 3 cloves, minced
- Minced beef: 700 g (1.5 lbs) or about 3½ cups
- Salt: To taste
- Ground black pepper: To taste
- Sweet paprika (dried, ground): To taste
- Dried oregano: To taste
- Tomato sauce: 200 g (7 oz) or about ¾ cup
For the Béchamel Sauce:
- Butter: 40 g (3 tablespoons)
- Flour: 30 g (2 tablespoons)
- Milk: 500 ml (2 cups)
- Salt: To taste
- Ground black pepper: To taste
For the Topping:
- Hard mozzarella cheese: 100 g (3.5 oz) or about 1 cup, grated
Directions
- Prepare the Spaghetti:
- Boil water in a large pot, adding salt and vegetable oil.
- Cook the spaghetti until al dente according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- Prepare the Meat Sauce:
- Cook the diced bacon in a large frying pan over medium heat until crispy. Remove and set aside.
- In the same pan, sauté the chopped red onion and minced garlic until fragrant.
- Add the minced beef and cook until browned.
- Season with salt, black pepper, paprika, and oregano to taste.
- Stir in the tomato sauce and cooked bacon. Let simmer for 5-7 minutes.
- Prepare the Béchamel Sauce:
- Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the flour and cook, whisking constantly, for about 1 minute.
- Gradually pour in the milk, whisking continuously to prevent lumps.
- Cook the mixture, stirring constantly, until it thickens. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Assemble the Dish:
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (355°F).
- In a greased baking dish, layer half of the cooked spaghetti, followed by half of the meat sauce, and then a layer of béchamel sauce.
- Repeat the layers, and top with grated mozzarella cheese.
- Bake:
- Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until the top is golden and bubbly.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve hot with a fresh green salad or steamed vegetables.
- Pair with garlic bread for an even heartier meal.
- Garnish with freshly chopped parsley or basil for added flavor.
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