Spaghetti Pie is an easy lasagna-esque dinner. The homemade tomato meat sauce is super quick and easy to make. You can customize with any spices you like (and maybe sneak in some veggies for kids). Leftovers keep well and make a great lunch for tomorrow!
This spaghetti pie is one of our favorite comfort recipes. I’ve been making this for at least 25 years, starting when my son was a young lad.
As a working mom, I was always seeking recipes that weren’t too complicated, economical and would make great leftovers. The meat filling is not made from bottled spaghetti sauce, and doesn’t take hours to make. The “crust” is made with cooked pasta, eggs and Parmesan cheese, with a layer of fresh ricotta cheese (or cottage cheese). The topping has plenty of melted, gooey mozzarella.
I made this again, recently, and I decided to update with new photos. Just as I remembered, this is a comforting and delicious casserole. By the way, you could easily use ground turkey instead of ground beef.
Start a pot of boiling water and cook spaghetti noodles according to the package direction. Brown ground beef until no longer pink.
The filling couldn’t be easier to make! Cooked ground beef, chopped onion, garlic, chopped green peppers. I know, I know… not everybody like green peppers. I happen to love them, and they add so much flavor to the sauce. Leave them out, if you wish. However, if you have kiddos, I’m sure you could sneak in grated carrots– and they’d be none the wiser.
For the sauce, add tomato paste, diced tomatoes and Italian herbs. All done!
To bind the “crust” you’ll need eggs, Parmesan cheese and melted butter. Spread the noodle mixture into a deep pie dish and press the cottage cheese on top of the crust. (NOTE: Eagle-eyed folks will see I accidentally add the cottage cheese to the “binder”. No worries. I just added cottage cheese on top, and all went well.
Of course, we need shredded Mozzarella cheese.
I’m not shy with the cheese…
Back into the oven it goes for 5 minutes. My kitchen smells like an Italian restaurant, whenever I make this.
Allow the casserole to sit for 5-10 minutes, so the cheese and crust can “settle”.
TASTING NOTES: Oh, this is so good! I think this casserole tastes even better, the next day. I used to pack leftovers to work, for my lunch, as this reheats really well. This is a delicious alternative to regular spaghetti and, in a way a “Cheater Lasagna”. It’s been kid tested, and it’s a winner!
This post was originally posted in 2014, and has been updated with new photos.
UPDATE: I have deleted my 2014 rantings about my knee replacement, thyroid challenges etc. It’s a few years later, and all is well!
Easy Classic Spaghetti Pie Casserole
Ingredients
CRUST:
- 6 ounces spaghetti or angel hair pasta
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup cottage or ricotta cheese
MEAT FILLING:
- 1 pound ground beef or ground turkey
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 1 large clove garlic finely minced
- 1/4 cup green peppers chopped (optional); can replace with 1/2 cup finely grated carrots
- 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 6 ounces tomato paste
- 1 8-ounce can diced tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese grated
Instructions
- Prepare a pie dish with non-stick cooking spray, set aside.
- Cook the pasta in salted water until just al dente; drain but don’t rinse.
- Whisk the egg, melted butter, and parmesan cheese and then add the pasta and combine. Press the pasta into the pie dish, working it up on the sides and distribute evenly. Spread the cottage or ricotta cheese overtop the pasta
- In a separate pan, brown the beef, then add the onion, green pepper, and garlic. Cook until vegetables are softened.
- In a separate deep skillet, add the diced tomatoes and tomato paste, oregano and sugar on medium heat.
- When the beef and vegetables have cooked, drain if necessary, then add to the pasta sauce.
- Add the meat filling on top of the cottage cheese.
- Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes; add the mozzarella cheese and bake for 5 minutes more, or until bubbly and melted.
- Allow to stand for 5 minutes, before slicing.
Notes
Keep going! Your doing a great job. Just give yourself a break. We'll be reading your post when it comes. Besdy wishes to you and your family.O:-)
I printed out the recipe and I will be trying it out. Looks delicious! I've missed your posts but knew you were having issues, for which I am so sorry. You are headed for better days ahead. Keep us posted so we can cheer you on!
I wish you the best of luck with your recovery. You are a part of my Feedly reader, so we'll be waiting for your next post, whether it's next week or two months down the road.
You have my thoughts and prayers for a quick and complete recovery! I can't imagine all that you've been through and will continue to follow you as long as you continue to post. Please post whenever it feels like the right thing for you to do. You and your family should always be your primary focus. Keep us posted when you can!
I will miss you and I will be here eagerly waiting for you to come back.
I was just thinking earlier today, how thankful I am for your blog. (So is my husband, although he doesn't know it's because of you.) You have revived my interest in cooking and trying new recipes again. Once upon a time, it used to be magazines, but now it's the Internet. I still get magazines, but the recipes don't seem as interesting. And sometimes, it's a matter of finding the recipe again. Whereas, on the internet or selected blogs I follow, I know exactly where to go, and the desired recipe is right there. So thank you, Debby!
I've been following your blog long enough that there are LOTS of your recipes that I make. In fact I was on it tonight because I'm going to make semmelknoedel to go with the Austrian Goulash I made earlier today.
Wishing you a speedy recovery! Take all the time you need to feel better. I will be waiting for your return.
I used to make a spaghetti pie, but I've lost the recipe. It was a favorite of my daughter, too. Now I can make it again. Thanks for sharing it.
Working for an orthopaedic surgeon I know that the surgery process is long and painful. It takes a lot of hard work through the pain for months to keep that knee mobile. You can do it Debby.
My boys would love this cheesy deliciousness too. Sorry you've been struggling.
Best wishes and prayers for a complete, speedy recovery. I'm sure your faithful readers will still be here and you'll be pain free
Hang in there! Your blog is so enjoyable I wouldn't think of jumping ship. I send you all good wishes for a speedy recovery and a return to good health. Debbie the NY Baker
Please know that you have an awesome blog and that I "pin" many of your recipes. Wishing you a speedy back to normal and hope the new knee proves even better than the old one.
Awww Debby thanks for your transparency! Nobody is judging you and so many GET you! 🙂 I understand the thyroid issues… seeeeee I get you! I'm going to Trader Joes right now to get food and will make this dish tonight to celebrate your great attitude and future blogging and health! Love you!!!! I always got your back with prayers too.
Good morning! Wow, thank you for all the wonderful comments. This is EXACTLY why I love the Food Blogger Community. There are so many invisible faces behind the heartfelt comments that you leave. Thank you one and all! Hugs, Debby
Thanks for keeping us posted. You re in my thoughts and prayers.
Hi!
My dad suffers from gout and he swears by pure cherry juice for it.
I've been reading for a few months and tried a handful of your recipes, the Hawaiian macaroni salad is my favorite. Feel better soon! 🙂
Waiting patiently for your recovery (and more recipes),
S
I'll be thinking of you the next few weeks and crossing my fingers! We will be here when you return. Much love coming your way.
Never Give Up Never Surrender! The knee will get better, the thyroid can knock your block off but will vastly improve (both of these I absolutely promise bc I've been there) and gout? After the first two gout will be a piece of cake. Your recipes will keep me going and I will watch for your return. Look! at all your responses. I will be here. Auf wiedersehn.
Hi! I don't know how your blog started showing up in my Facebook feed, but I always enjoy reading about your cooking adventures!
I often find myself adapting the recipes to be gluten free since I have celiac and a slew of undiagnosed auto-immune-like symptoms….. oh the joys of being a medical mystery!
I'm sure you are getting a lot of unsolicited advice, and I just wanted to write you a note of encouragement and say that I am truly sorry for what you are going through. The "invisible" pains are the worst- because you don't get the much-needed grace and empathy that are so desperately desired to help make it through the day.
One of the (maybe unforeseen) blessings through all of this is that you are a food blogger and a good cook! The food we eat truly impacts our health- especially when there are underlying issues. I recommend checking out/removing night shades and looking at Gluten as that sneaky culprit of so many issues!
Thanks, Kristen. I am investigating more into foods that can make my gout act up. Gluten-free has it's merits, of that I don't doubt. But, to give it up… I'd really have to think long and hard and see if that's the direction I want to go. I sure love my gluten products!
Debby: Man, I've read your blog since we were new 'bloggers' a few years ago/from like 2010! And you should never give it up, you have great food recipes here and, everyone enjoys your writings! I do understand your blogging angst, since I haven't even done a new post on my blog for over a year! You probably won't even remember me, but I've always enjoyed your blog and try to keep up with visiting. I am sad to hear of your health woes of late. BUT you do NOT have to worry about people forgetting about you if you don't blog regularly for awhile! Take your time, do what you need to do health-wise; take your rehab time, and rest for two or three months, and then come back to cook. Trust me, everyone will be here to see your newest post. 🙂
Until then, God bless and I wish you well. Godspeed for your recovery!
Best,
Gloria (from the blog: thelittleredhousewiththewhiteporch.blogspot.com)
Debbie – So sorry to hear that you are having to endure multiple issues at the same time and I hope they are all short lived and you are soon back to normal.
Wow Debbie, you've really been through the ringer haven't you. I knew about the problems with your knee, but I didn't know about the thyroid nor the gout. Yikes, the knee is bad enough without pilling on the other two. My FIL and my husband both have suffered with gout so I know how painful it is. I hope your doctors can find a way to whip those problems for you. In the meantime, rest, relax and don't worry about us. We're all here for you.
Sam
Praying for a successful procedure and complete recovery. Eagerly awaiting your return.
Oh no!! I'm so sorry to hear you've been dealing all this. I can't even imagine. Know that we're all thinking about and rooting for you!!
Wow whee you gots to take care of yourself, I get the Gout too and I have had tummy problems anemia and will be getting a endoscopy and colonscopy on the same day for my troubles! I will be praying that you sail thru with little pain and a knee that bends the way you want it to and your thyroid issues are taken care of..I love your blog and make your recipes all the time! I just know you will be feeling great very very very soon, ciao mary jane from out here in the pacific northwest, peace and good wishes and prayers for a most quick recovery! ciao!~
Best of luck to you during this difficult time.
I know I am late but I appreciate your candor! We are human beings with REAL lives not staged like on those reality shows! HA! We are not machines as I was telling a friend the other day. We get tired and must take care of ourselves. If some folk leave that is okay because you have new folks like me who will stay and support you! I commend you for just saying you will go to therapy. Do you know how many folks don't then complain they don't feel well? (I am a health professional so my rant on that).
Funny, I was just organizing my recipes and was shocked to find 8 versions. Well, now 9. If the current cooling trend (oh please, please, please) continues, I'll be making this soon! Sound delicious.
Tanya, thank you for the pep talk. The good news is that my surgery happened, it worked and I'm doing much better. My thyroids are back to normal, so all is better. Oh, and no more gout outbreaks. Wheeeeeeeeeeee!