Baked Spaghetti Pie
This Baked Spaghetti Pie is made with a gruyere cheese and spaghetti layer, a rich homemade meat sauce layer, cottage cheese, then topped with melted mozzarella cheese. You can make it ahead of time, which is perfect for those busy weeknight dinners.
I you are looking for a ground beef recipe the whole family will love, this is the recipe to try! This baked spaghetti pie recipe is one the kids will be asking you to make all the time. Double the recipe as it freezes very well. I like to serve this dish with a simple tossed salad with my fresh Italian Herb Dressing.
How to make Spaghetti Pie
Prepare the meat sauce.
- In a large skillet cook the ground beef with onions, garlic, and peppers. Stir in the tomato paste, diced tomatoes, oregano, sugar, salt and pepper.
- Continue to cook while you prepare the pasta.
- Why the sugar? A tad of sugar helps to cut down the acidity of the tomatoes.
- Can you use store-bought meat sauce.? Yes, but it certainly will not be as tasty
Prepare the crust layer
- Cook the spaghetti until al dente (soft but still chewy and firm)
- Toss the spaghetti with butter, egg, and Gruyere cheese.
- Can another cheese be substituted for Gruyere? I love the flavor of Gruyere cheese and how it blends with the pasta. If you must, Jarlsberg, Emmentaler or, fresh grated Parmesan will work.
Putting the pie together
- Place the spaghetti mixture in the bottom of a large pie plate that has been generous greased with butter.
- Spread the cottage cheese over the pasta. I do this by placing dollops and then spreading evenly.
- Next, add the meat sauce over the cottage cheese. Again, do this by scooping dollops and then spreading evenly.
- Bake uncovered in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes. Top with mozzarella cheese, then bake for additional 10-12 minutes until the cheese has melted.
family favorite recipes made with ground beef
My family loves recipes made with ground beef, here are some of their favorites!
This post was originally published on August 3, 2013. Occasionally I update with fresh tips, content, and photos. Current update February 24, 2021.
Baked Spaghetti Pie
Ingredients
- 1/2 box spaghetti about 9 oz
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 2 eggs beaten
- 1/2 cup gruyere cheese grated
- 1 1/2 cups cottage cheese
- 1 1/2 pound ground beef
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic finely chopped
- 1/2 red pepper chopped
- 1/2 yellow pepper chopped
- 1 can (28oz) diced tomatoes drained
- 1 can (6oz) tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 tablespoon fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon dried
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees fahreheit.
- Brown the ground beef with onions, garlic and peppers.
- Stir in the tomato paste and diced tomatoes.
- Add the sugar and oregano. Season with salt and pepper.
- Keep heated while you prepare the spaghetti.
- Cook spaghetti until al dente. Soft, yet chewy and firm.
- Drain and return to pot.
- Mix in the butter, eggs and gruyere cheese.
- Grease 10 inch pie plate. Spread the spaghetti mix evenly in the pie plate. This is your crust.
- Spread the cottage cheese on top of the spaghetti crust. Do this by placing dollops over the spaghetti and then spread evenly.
- Spoon the ground beef mixture on top of cottage cheese layer. Spread evenly.
- Bake uncovered for 20 minutes at 350 degrees. Then top with mozzarella cheese and continue to bake for an additional 10 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Nutrition
Made this and the family enjoyed it quite a bit. I was not sure they would but I will be making this again. It was a hit.
Thank you Sandy, I like to double the recipe and freeze one.
I use Italian sausage instead of ground beef. I have also used ground beef, but the Italian sausage makes it so yummy.
Hi! I am meal planning for next week and would love to make this during the day, store in the refrigerator and then heat right before dinner. I’m thinking it could be a good pre-baseball dinner, when we need to eat early and clean up quickly. I’m assuming I’d just need to bake a little longer than 20 minutes if it’s chilled?
Also, my kids don’t love cheese. I know, what kid doesn’t like cheese??? So, I’m thinking about doing less than the 1-1/2 cups of mozzarella on top. Do you think I could get by with less and it would still bind together on top to slice like a piece of pie? Any ideas?
Hi Kelly, yes you would have to cook it longer than 20 minutes. I’m thinking 30 to 40 minutes. The spaghetti pie should still slice just fine with the reduction of cheese on top. Hope you enjoy the recipe.
Made the baked spaghetti tonight it was a great hit with wife and son,he even asked if there was leftovers
When kids ask for leftovers you know its a hit, thanks Steve.
Hi! I want to make this but for a bigger crowd, do you think doubling the recipe and doing in a 13×9 glass baking dish would work okay? If so, what would you do to the times and temp? TIA!
Hi Angie, for sure doubling the recipe would work in 13×9 pan. Cooking time should be roughly the same. Enjoy!
Thank you so much for your prompt answer. I have another question. Do you bake the pie before freezing?
I only have glass pie plates that are 10″ and I know you can’t take them straight from the freezer and put them into a hot oven so I thought I would use some aluminum foil lasagna pans. (they are 11 3/4″ x 9 1/4″ x 1 1/2″) They are a bit too small , probably a 13″x 9″ would have worked better. Not as pretty as a round pie but should still work.
It smells delicious. Can’t wait to share it with the grandkids!
Thanks again, Laureen 🙂
Hi Joyce, can’t wait to hear how the grandkids like it. I think it would be best to freeze the pie before cooking, the cheese turns out better that way. You could make the pie in one of those foil pie plate to freeze. Hope you enjoy!
This recipe looks very tasty. I am wondering how you would cook it once it is frozen?
I particularly like recipes that I can have on hand (in my freezer) to help out on busy days.
Prepare once — Eat twice– Perfect 🙂
Thank you for sharing your recipes.
Hi Joyce, I would cook it straight from frozen at 350º for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours. I am so glad you are enjoying the recipes I share.
I’m wondering if you can substitute spaghetti squash instead of using pasta? I’m not super familiar spaghetti squash but I’m trying to incorporate veggie noodles in place of pasta.
Hi Michelle, I don’t think spaghetti squash would work for this recipe as the water content of spaghetti squash is much higher than pasta, but you can always experiment
Hi- this looks great! Can it prepared ahead of time and cooked later? Thanks!
for sure Katie!
Thanks for the tip, I note that in the instructions.