Paula Deen Baked Spaghetti Recipe

Name: Paula Deen Baked Spaghetti Recipe
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 120 min
Total time: 145 min
Ingredients: 8 Oz Uncooked Angel Hair Pasta; ¼ Cup Chopped Fresh Parsley; 1 ½ lbs Ground Beef; 1 ½ Half Spoon Paula Deen House Seasoning; 1 ½ Teaspoons Sugar; 1 ½ Teaspoons Paula Deen Seasoned Salt; 1 ½ Teaspoons Italian seasoning; 1 Cup Water; 2 Cups Diced Tomatoes; 2 Cloves Chopped Garlic; ½ Cup Diced Green Bell Pepper; ½ Cup Diced Onion; 1 Cup Grated Cheddar Cheese; 1 Cup Grated Monetary Grated Cheese; 1 Small Bay Leaves

Recipe Pin

This Paula Deen baked spaghetti is a simple, family-friendly, and “get it right” recipe that is very EASY to make. No, the words are not typos, and I meant to write them in capitals because it is indeed quite easy to make at home.

Almost a one-pan recipe that requires no pre-cooking, it is also a kid and aged people-friendly recipe, making it a perfect dinner for any day of the week.

Scrumptious spaghetti twirled in tomato sauce, and gooey cheese are one of the fanciest meals you can enjoy at home. What makes it even more special is Paula Deen’s house seasoning, which can be easily found at any store.

This seasoning recipe has special flavors that upgrade the taste of ordinary spaghetti. It has the perfect salty, earthy, and garlic flavors in the the perfect ratio. If you don’t know how you can make it, don’t worry. I have shared the exact recipe of Paula Deen house seasoning here.

I can tell you out of experience that even the pickiest of picky eaters would thank you for making this recipe because this baked spaghetti recipe is a game changer.

What's In The Post

Equipments Required

Oven: Since this is a baking recipe you will need an oven for this recipe.
Baking Dish: For baking the spaghetti, take any baking dish available.
Stockpot: I use my stockpot to crumble the beef and make the sauce.
Cheese Grater: This dish calls for grated cheese, therefore I keep my grater handy.
Spatula: I use my rubber spatula to toss all the ingredients together, you can also use tongs.
Knife: I use a sharp knife to chop all the veggies for this recipe.
Chopping Board: I keep it hygienic by using a chopping board to chop it all off.

Ingredients & Substitution

Note: The ingredients in this recipe can serve up to 10 people.

8 Oz Uncooked Angel Hair Pasta: You can also use other varieties of spaghetti for this recipe.
¼ Cup Chopped Fresh Parsley: Another replacement for parsley would be basil or oregano for this recipe.
1 ½ lbs Ground Beef: I like to use chicken, turkey, bacon or even ham when I don’t have ground beef at home.
1 ½ Half Spoon Paula Deen House Seasoning: When I don’t find this in the store, I make mine at home by mixing 1 cup salt, ¼ cup pepper, and garlic powder along with onion powder as per liking.
1 ½ Teaspoons Sugar
1 ½ Teaspoons Paula Deen Seasoned Salt
1 ½ Teaspoons Italian seasoning
1 Cup Water
2 Cups Diced Tomatoes: When I am lazy I go for canned tomatoes to save my cutting time.
2 Cloves Chopped Garlic
½ Cup Diced Green Bell Pepper
½ Cup Diced Onion
1 Cup Grated Cheddar Cheese: When running out of cheddar cheese I use cottage cheese instead.
1 Cup Grated Monetary Grated Cheese: A good alternative to this which I like to use is parmesan cheese.
2 Small Bay Leaves

Preparation & Cooking Time

Preparation Time	Cooking Time	Total Time
25 mins	2 hours	2 hours 25 mins

How To Make Paula Deen’s Baked Spaghetti With Tomatoes At Home

Step 1

Begin by boiling the spaghetti in a pan full of water.

Step 2

To it, add oil and salt and let it boil

Step 3

Next, take another pan to cook the ground beef for 25 minutes until it is golden brown. Do not add any oil or butter to this pan since the beef releases oil while being cooked, which further helps the meat cook faster.

Step 4

Take the stockpot, add onions, diced tomatoes and bell peppers to it.

Step 5

Now, add chopped garlic and tomato sauce to the stockpot.

Step 6

Further, add Paula Deen seasoned salt, and Italian seasoning to the pot.

Step 7

Now, add some sugar and one bay leaf.

Step 8

Next, add a splash of water to combine everything.

Step 9

Simmer everything nicely until the sauce is thickened.

Step 10

Moving forward, add 400 grams of cooked ground beef to the pot.

Step 11

Once the ground beef is nicely cooked, sprinkle a pinch of Paula Deen’s house seasoning.

Step 12

Combine the beef mixture in a baking dish followed by boiled spaghetti.

Step 13

At the end, you need to add another layer of beef mixture on top of the boiled spaghetti.

Step 14

Finally, garnish it with cheddar and Monterey cheese.

Step 15

Once you have garnished, it will be ready to bake.

Step 16

Place the baking dish in the oven and bake the spaghetti for 20 minutes at 180 degrees celsius.

Step 17

After baking it in the oven for 30 minutes, it’s ready to be served.

Expert Tips That I Recommend

When I am feeling short on time or lazy, I go for canned tomatoes to save up my time.
I let the sauce simmer gently, which allows it to develop complex flavors.
I am also alert while preheating the oven adequately to ensure that the cheese is even cooked and melted.
To make the pasta healthier, I add veggies like mushrooms, zucchini, and bell peppers, making it more nutritious.

FAQs About Paula Deen Baked Spaghetti With Tomatoes

How do I determine if my spaghetti is cooked?

If the spaghetti is tender on the inside and a bit firm on the inside, this is a clear indication that it is well cooked. However, if it is soft and mushy, then it is overcooked. Rubbery and hard spaghetti are always undercooked.

Why is this baked spaghetti watery?

If your baked spaghetti is runny or watery, chances are you have used precooked refrigerated sauce. When you add refrigerated sauce to a hot oven, it releases extra water, leaving excess liquid in the baking tray.

How to fix the sauce if it’s runny?

To fix a runny sauce, you can boil it down until the desired consistency. Moreover, you can also mix cornstarch with water to make a thick slurry and add it to the sauce to correct its consistency.

Why is my cooked spaghetti sticky?

Your spaghetti can turn sticky if you overcook it. Therefore, remove the spaghetti from boiling water once it is cooked to al dente.

Why won’t my spaghetti cook?

Spaghetti is a long form of noodles that requires an appropriate amount of cooking time and temperature. So, make sure that your water is boiled properly adding spaghetti in it.

How do I know if my ground beef is cooked properly?

To determine if the ground beef is cooked properly, you can check the internal temperature of the beef using a kitchen thermometer, which should be around 160 degrees F. Also, if it looks perfectly brown with no pink to it, then it is perfectly cooked.

Can I prepare this dish ahead of time?

Yes, this recipe can definitely be made ahead of time. Assemble all the ingredients together and toss them into the oven when you want to bake them. Once they are ready, you can store and reheat them when necessary before consumption.

Nutritional Information Per Serving

Paula Deen baked spaghetti with tomatoes is not a healthy option to consume on a daily basis since it is high in calories and sodium content too. Therefore, I would recommend you to enjoy it in moderation.

Calories	532 Kcal
Total Fat	14.3 g
Saturated Fat	5.3 g
Cholesterol	99 mg
Sodium	4592 mg
Total carbohydrate	84.3 g
Dietary fibers	6.2 g
Total sugars	17.6 g
Protein	22.5 g
Vitamin D	1 mcg
Calcium	385 mg
Iron	15 mg
Potassium	486 mg

All in all, the good things about this dish are that it is suitable for people following a paleo diet. However, those following a low-sodium diet and others might need to make a few changes in the recipe to prioritize their preferences.

Paula-Deen-Baked-Spaghetti-Recipe-At-Home

Recipe Variations To Try Out

Keto-Friendly: I have many friends who love this baked spaghetti recipe, and I always make it in a keto-friendly style for them. To do this, I use low-carb keto-friendly spaghetti and top it with cheddar cheese or goat cheese. I strictly avoid using low-fat and processed cheese like cottage cheese since it is a big no-no in the keto diet.
Gluten Free: To make gluten-free spaghetti, I use gluten-free spaghetti options. When I have time on hand, I also make zucchini noodles for this recipe which is also a great fix.
Vegetarian: Since this recipe involves ground beef, I swap it with veggies to make a vegetarian version.

How To Store This Recipe

Storing

Countertop: This dish tastes scrumptious when it is served hot with heart-melting, bubbly cheese. This is the main reason why I do not like to leave it on my countertop for long. The maximum amount of time I have left this on my countertop is 20-30 minutes only, after which the cold cheese gets solidified, and even the spaghetti texture can get a bit unappetizing.
Fridge: I love to store my leftover Paula Den baked spaghetti in the refrigerator for about 4-5 days. However, before doing so, I let it cool down completely, then cover it with aluminum foil or place it in a tight container to prevent any refrigerator air from seeping in.
Freezer: This is one of my go-to freezer recipes, which you will always find in the freezer. I use tight containers or freezer bags to store this dish in the freezer that remains in good condition for at least a month.

Reheating

Microwave: Being a big procrastinator, the fastest way to reheat my Paula Deen baked spaghetti is using the microwave. For this, I like to cover my leftovers with a sheet of foil to prevent any splattering inside the microwave. Then, I heat it at medium heat with 30-second increments until it is heated enough.
Oven: Baked spaghetti can also be reheated in an oven. Therefore, I place the leftovers in a preheated oven for about 350 F for 2-5 minutes, based on the quantity, and serve it hot.
Stovetop: I like to also keep this as an option when I don’t mind washing the dishes. I quickly splash some water on a pan to prevent the spaghetti from sticking. Then I let it get nicely warm until the heat is spread evenly.

What To Serve With This Recipe

Paula Deen’s baked spaghetti is good in itself, but with a few other side dishes, it tastes even better. Therefore, I always pair Paula Deen’s baked spaghetti with a slice of Garlic Bread. I love his combo for lunch, along with a cold mocktail on the side.

However, I know that few people would consider this unhealthy, so I have suggestions for trying it out with light salad as well. Try this with Potato Salad or Chicken Salad, and you will be full for quite a long time.

If you have a sweet tooth like me, you can try this out with a sweet Apple Crumble Pie or a chocolate muffin. It makes a perfect meal course with a sweet kick at the end.

Printable Version

More Paula Deen Recipes That You Can Try

Homemade Breakfast Casserole — Paula Deen Breakfast Casserole

Beef Stew With Spoon — Paula Deen Breakfast Casserole

Conclusion

Try out this baked Paula Deen baked spaghetti with tomatoes for a weeknight dinner with family or cravings at midnight alone.

This spaghetti with a creamy center and meaty sauce is the definition of comfort food taken to the next level. It can be made ahead of time and also freezed which makes it quite handy to enjoy and store for days.

If you found this recipe simple then let us know in the comments section down below to spread more love for this recipe to as many people as possible.