You are going to LOVE this easy Spaghetti Bake!

I’m not kidding.

This cheesy, comforting pasta casserole is one of our new family favorites. It’s filling, flavorful, easy to customize, and makes a great family dinner.

And there’s something else I really love about this recipe: you can make it with or without meat!

Want to keep it meatless? Absolutely!

Want to add chicken? Go for it.

Prefer lean ground beef? That works too!

This spaghetti bake is incredibly flexible, so you can make it the way your family likes it.

 

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Why You’ll Love This Spaghetti Bake

There is just something about a cheesy baked pasta casserole that makes a great comfort food dinner.

This spaghetti bake combines tender pasta with seasoned tomato sauce, mushrooms, creamy mushroom soup, and plenty of cheese. Everything gets layered together and baked until hot, bubbly, and delicious.

The result is a hearty dinner that feels like a special treat but is actually pretty simple to make.

And the portions are generous!

That might be my favorite part.

You know those days when you are absolutely STARVING?

Yeah. Me too.

And on those days, I don’t want a tiny little serving of dinner that leaves me standing in front of the refrigerator an hour later trying to figure out what else I can eat.

This recipe makes 8 generous servings, so you can sit down and actually enjoy your dinner.

A Little Spaghetti Bake Backstory

I remember eating something similar many years ago when I was following Weight Watchers.

I had the recipe printed out, and I made it often enough that the paper eventually became stained, worn, and pretty much falling apart.

Eventually, I threw it away.

After all, I firmly believed I had the recipe tucked away in my mind.

Well…

Years went by, and I never made it again.

And guess what?

I couldn’t remember the recipe.

So when I started craving that cheesy, comforting spaghetti casserole again, I decided to make my own version.

The original recipe I remembered had both meat and cottage cheese.

When I started experimenting in my kitchen, I didn’t have either one.

So I improvised.

I added mushrooms, cream of mushroom soup, seasoned tomato sauce, and plenty of cheese.

And this Spaghetti Bake was born!

My husband loved it and didn’t miss the meat at all.

That says a lot!

Make It With or Without Meat

One of the best things about this recipe is that the meat is completely optional.

If you want a delicious meatless spaghetti bake, simply make the recipe as written.

If your family prefers meat, you can add 1 pound of cooked chicken or lean ground beef to the sauce.

Chicken Spaghetti Bake

Add 1 pound of cooked, chopped chicken breast to the tomato sauce before assembling the casserole.

This is a great way to use leftover chicken or a rotisserie chicken.

Ground Beef Spaghetti Bake

Brown 1 pound of lean ground beef, drain it well, and add it to the tomato sauce before assembling the casserole.

It gives the recipe a more traditional baked spaghetti flavor.

Keeping It Meatless

Don’t add anything at all!

The mushrooms provide some texture and a savory flavor, and the seasoned tomato sauce, creamy mushroom soup, and cheese make this casserole plenty satisfying without meat.

And according to the WW information for this recipe, adding 1 pound of chicken or lean ground beef does not change the Points value, which remains 8 Points per serving.

That makes this a really versatile family recipe.

The Secret Ingredient

I know cream of mushroom soup might sound a little unusual in a spaghetti bake.

But trust me on this one.

The original recipe I remembered used cottage cheese, and I wanted something that would add creaminess to the casserole.

The cream of mushroom soup worked beautifully.

I combine it with skim milk before adding it to the sauce. It creates a creamy, rich layer that works really well with the tomato sauce and cheese.

If you prefer a more traditional spaghetti bake, you can leave out the mushroom soup.

But personally?

I love it.

And if you’re a mushroom lover like I am, you’ll especially appreciate the extra mushroom flavor.

Add Your Favorite Vegetables

This recipe is also a great starter recipe.

What I mean by that is that you can easily add other vegetables to make it your own.

Some ideas include:

• Bell peppers
• Zucchini
• Broccoli
• Baby spinach
• Mushrooms
• Black olives
• Extra onions
• Additional garlic

I actually had some baby spinach in my refrigerator when I made this.

I thought about adding it.

Then I remembered my son would probably see something green in his dinner and immediately decide he hated the entire casserole.

So I skipped it.

Mom life.

I also had some black olives, but my husband hates olives, so I thought I’d be a good, loving wife and leave them out.

And, as an added bonus, leaving them out saved a few points!

If you enjoy olives, feel free to add them.

The beauty of this recipe is that you can customize it to your family’s preferences.

Don’t Make My Pasta Mistake!

I learned an important lesson the first time I made this spaghetti bake.

After cooking your pasta, don’t just drain it and leave it sitting in the pot.

Trust me.

I did that.

I drained the pasta, put the lid on the pot, and continued preparing the sauce.

When I was ready to assemble the casserole, the pasta had all stuck together.

It was incredibly difficult to separate the noodles!

Instead, after draining the pasta, fill the pot back up with cold water and keep the cooked pasta in the water until you’re ready to assemble the casserole.

When you’re ready to layer everything, drain the pasta again.

This little trick makes assembling the casserole SO much easier.

What to Serve With Spaghetti Bake

This spaghetti bake is filling enough to be a complete meal, but I love serving it with a simple side salad.

The fresh vegetables and crisp salad are a nice contrast to the warm, cheesy pasta.

You could also serve it with:

• Steamed broccoli
• Roasted vegetables
• Fresh fruit
• A simple garden salad
• Garlic bread

If you’re trying to keep your meal lower in Points, calories, or carbohydrates, a large salad or serving of vegetables is a great choice.

Can You Make Spaghetti Bake Ahead of Time?

Yes!

This is a great make-ahead dinner.

You can assemble the casserole earlier in the day, cover it, and refrigerate it until you’re ready to bake.

If you’re baking it directly from the refrigerator, you may need to add a little extra baking time to make sure the casserole is heated completely through.

This also makes a great leftover meal.

Honestly, I think baked pasta sometimes tastes even better the next day.

All of those flavors have had extra time to hang out together!

Can I Make a Smaller Serving?

Absolutely.

This recipe makes 8 servings, and the servings are generous.

If you look at your plate and think, “Holy cow, that’s a lot of spaghetti,” you can absolutely make your portion smaller.

Cut your serving in half and fill the rest of your plate with vegetables or salad.

This is one of my favorite ways to enjoy comfort food while still keeping the overall meal balanced.

You don’t have to completely give up the foods you love.

Sometimes you just need to adjust the portion.

Why This Is Such a Great Family Dinner

I really love recipes that don’t require me to make multiple meals for everyone in my family.

This spaghetti bake is one of those recipes.

Everyone can enjoy the same basic casserole, and you can easily customize it depending on what your family likes.

You can make it with chicken.

You can make it with lean ground beef.

You can leave the meat out.

You can add extra mushrooms.

You can add vegetables.

You can even divide the casserole and add meat to only part of it if your family has different preferences.

That’s what makes this such a useful recipe to have in your dinner rotation.

WW Point Information

This recipe makes 8 servings.

Each serving is 1/8 of the casserole dish.

WW Points: 8 Points per serving

Adding 1 pound of chicken or lean ground beef does not change the Points value for this recipe according to the information provided with the recipe.

As always, WW Points can vary based on individual plans, ingredient brands, and current WW calculations, so use the WW app for the most accurate calculation for your specific plan.

Ingredients

• 1 pound angel hair or vermicelli pasta (I use this brand) 
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/2 cup diced onion
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 large 28-ounce can tomato sauce — make sure no sugar is added like this product
• 2 cups fresh mushrooms, diced 
• 2 teaspoons seasoning blend — this is the seasoning I use
• 2 cups fat-free cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1 10.5-ounce can 98% fat-free cream of mushroom soup
• 1/3 cup skim milk
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Nonstick cooking spray

Optional Meat

• 1 pound cooked chicken breast, chopped OR
• 1 pound lean ground beef, browned and drained

How to Make Spaghetti Bake

Step 1: Prepare the Baking Dish

Preheat your oven to 350°F.

Coat a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set it aside. (I love these baking dishes)

Step 2: Cook the Pasta

Cook the entire package of angel hair or vermicelli according to the package directions.

When the pasta is finished cooking, drain it.

Then fill the pot back up with cold water and place the cooked pasta back into the water.

Cover and set aside while you prepare the sauce.

Remember to drain the pasta again before assembling the casserole.

Step 3: Prepare the Sauce

While the pasta is cooking, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Add the diced onion and minced garlic.

Cook until the onion becomes translucent.

Add the tomato sauce, mushrooms, and seasoning.

If you’re adding chicken or lean ground beef, you can add it at this point as well.

Reduce the heat and simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Step 4: Add the Creamy Mushroom Mixture

In a bowl, combine the cream of mushroom soup and skim milk.

Stir well until smooth.

Add the mixture to the sauce and stir to combine.

Simmer for approximately 5 minutes, or until heated through.

You can also reserve this mixture and layer it over the pasta during assembly.

I’ve done it both ways!

Step 5: Layer the Spaghetti Bake

Drain the pasta well.

Add half of the pasta to your prepared 9 x 13-inch baking dish.

Top with half of the sauce.

Add half of the shredded fat-free cheddar cheese.

Repeat the layers with the remaining pasta, sauce, and cheese.

Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese evenly over the top.

Step 6: Bake

Place the casserole in the preheated oven.

Bake for approximately 30 minutes, or until the casserole is hot and the cheese is melted and bubbly.

For an extra cheesy finish, you can sprinkle a little fresh Parmesan over the top before serving.

Step 7: Cut and Serve

Allow the spaghetti bake to cool for a few minutes before cutting.

Cut the casserole into 8 equal pieces.

Each piece is one serving.

Then dig in!

Tips for the Best Spaghetti Bake

Don’t overcook the pasta. Since the pasta will continue cooking in the oven, cooking it just until tender helps prevent mushy spaghetti.

Keep the cooked pasta in cold water. This is especially helpful with angel hair or vermicelli, which can stick together quickly.

Customize the vegetables. Add whatever vegetables your family enjoys.

Use leftover chicken. This is a great way to use leftover cooked chicken breast.

Brown the beef first. If you’re adding ground beef, make sure it is fully cooked and drain the excess fat before adding it to the sauce.

Let it rest before cutting. Giving the casserole a few minutes to cool makes it easier to cut into neat servings.

Final Thoughts

I absolutely love recipes that are flexible enough to work for the whole family, and this Spaghetti Bake is exactly that.

You can make it meatless.

You can add chicken.

You can add lean ground beef.

You can add extra vegetables.

You can make the portions generous or cut them in half.

Basically, you can make this recipe work for you.

And that’s exactly what I want from an easy family dinner.

The combination of seasoned tomato sauce, mushrooms, creamy mushroom soup, pasta, and gooey melted cheese makes this such a comforting meal.

It’s the kind of dinner that feels like a treat but is simple enough to make on a weeknight.

So whether you’re looking for an easy baked spaghetti recipe, a cheesy pasta casserole, a meatless dinner, or a family-friendly spaghetti bake with chicken or ground beef, I think you’re going to love this one.

I hope your family enjoys it as much as mine does!

Enjoy!