Easy Creamy Baked Spaghetti Recipe

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 lb spaghetti pasta
• 1 & ½ cup cheddar cheese (topping)

For the Meat Sauce:

• 1 & ½ lbs ground beef
• 3 cups tomato puree
• 4 tbsp tomato paste
• ½ cup carrots, minced
• 2 tsp garlic, minced
• 1 medium yellow onion, minced
• ½ tsp dried basil
• ½ tsp dried thyme
• ½ tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp salt
• ¼ tsp ground black pepper
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• ¼ cup cream cheese

• 3 tbsp Parmesan cheese, shredded
• 4 tbsp butter
• 6 tbsp all- purpose flour
• 2 cups fresh milk

HOW TO COOK:

1. Cook the spaghetti according to package instructions then drain and set aside.

For the Meat Sauce:

1. Put the meat in a deep pan and heat over medium heat.
2. Cook the beef until brown while stirring once in awhile.
3. Add- in the olive oil, garlic, onion, and carrots then stir and cook until the onion turns soft.
4. Pour- in the tomato puree then stir and let it boil.
5. Cover and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes (add water if the sauce starts to reduce).
6. Remove the cover and put the heat back to medium.
7. Add the oregano, thyme, basil, salt, and ground back pepper then stir and cook for 3 minutes.
8. Put- in the tomato paste then stir and cook for 2 minutes.
9. Add the cream cheese to the meat sauce and stir until well blended. Turn the off heat and set aside.

For the Mornay Sauce:

1. Melt the butter in a saucepan.
2. Once the butter melts, add the flour.
3. Quickly stir until the flour absorbs the butter.
4. Pour- in the milk and then stir until all the ingredients are well blended.
5. Continue to stir until the milk starts to get thicker.
6. Add Parmesan cheese and stir until the texture gets thick enough. Turn off the heat and set aside.

Baking:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 350F or 177 C.
2. Combine the cooked spaghetti with the meat sauce in a large mixing bowl.
3. Toss to blend the ingredients then arrange the mixture in a baking pan.
4. Pour the mornay sauce on top and then spread all over.
5. Sprinkle cheddar cheese on top.
6. Bake the spaghetti for 18 to 20 minutes. Remove from oven and enjoy!

IMAGE: dinnerthendessert.com

Also try: Beef Lasagna

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