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How to Make Baked Cheese Spaghetti (Easy Oven Pasta Hack with Tomato Sauce)
- MyFreshDash
- Aug 7
- 5 min read
Updated: 20 hours ago
TL;DR:
Make baked cheese spaghetti in the oven with tomato sauce for an easy, cheesy pasta bake that’s cozy, simple, and weeknight friendly
You know that cheesy, bubbling pasta you always sneak from the pizza delivery box before the actual pizza? Yeah—that one. Imagine making it at home in under 30 minutes, with nothing but a pan, an oven-safe dish, and zero stress.
This Baked Cheese Spaghetti is comfort food done right: crispy on top, saucy in the middle, and overloaded with melty mozzarella. It’s got that takeout flavor, but it’s made with weeknight-friendly ingredients you probably already have.
Whether you’re cooking for your kids, your partner, or just yourself in pajamas, this is the kind of dish that hits the spot without hitting your wallet.
Why You’ll Love This Baked Cheese Spaghetti Recipe
Let’s be real: boiling pasta and dumping sauce is easy. But this version? It levels things up—fast.
Restaurant-style baked flavor with zero takeout
Uses canned tomato sauce but tastes homemade
Kid-friendly, cheese-loaded, and super filling
Perfect for lazy brunches, quick weeknight dinners, or meal prep
🛒 Main Ingredients You’ll Need
(Serves 2-3)
200g Pasta noodles (spaghetti or penne work great)
1 can tomato pasta sauce
1 fresh tomato (diced)
2–3 garlic cloves (minced)
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (more if you love cheese)
1–2 tbsp grated parmesan (optional but flavorful)
1 tbsp parsley flakes
1 tbsp olive oil
1 slice of bread (for garlic toast on the side)
🔪 Step-by-Step: How to Make Baked Cheese Spaghetti
1. Boil the Pasta (But Not All the Way)
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook your pasta for 1 minute less than the package instructions (usually 7 minutes instead of 8). No rinsing! Just drain and let it sit in a colander. This helps the noodles absorb more sauce later.
2. Chop the Add-Ins
Dice 1 fresh tomato and mince a few cloves of garlic (the more, the better if you're a garlic fan).These will boost your canned sauce and give it a more homemade taste.
3. Toast the Bread (Optional, but Pro-Level)
While the pasta cools slightly, toss a slice of bread into the toaster or air fryer. You’ll thank yourself later when you’re swiping it through melty cheese and sauce. Want extra points? Rub the toast with garlic or brush it with olive oil.
4. Sauté the Garlic & Pasta
In a large pan, heat 1 tbsp of olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté until golden and fragrant.Toss in your cooked pasta and stir well to coat in the oil and garlic.
5. Add the Sauce
To the same pan, add:
1 can of tomato pasta sauce
The diced tomato you prepped earlier
Stir everything together. The tomato chunks will give the sauce extra body and freshness.
6. Transfer to Oven Dish & Load with Cheese
Pour the saucy pasta into an oven-safe baking dish. Top generously with shredded mozzarella, a sprinkle of parmesan, and parsley flakes for color and flavor.
7. Bake Until Bubbling
Place your dish in a preheated oven or air fryer at 190°C (375°F). Bake for about 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden brown.
👀 Visual cue: If the top is golden and starting to crisp, it’s done. Every oven/air fryer is different, so keep an eye on it near the end.
8. Plate & Serve Immediately
Remove from the oven, let it cool for 1–2 minutes (molten cheese alert!), and plate it with your toasted bread. Add a quick green salad on the side and you’ve got a full, restaurant-worthy brunch.
Pro Tip: This pasta is best eaten hot—like, right out of the oven. The gooey cheese texture doesn’t wait for anyone.
🍽️ Final Touches Before Serving
The most important tip? Eat it immediately. The gooey cheese is everything—and once it cools, the magic fades.
This is cheese oven pasta at its best:
Saucy
Cheesy
Golden on top, soft underneath
It’s the kind of pasta that doesn’t need fancy ingredients—just generosity with cheese and sauce.
💡 Pro Tips & Variations
Add some cooked sausage, bacon, or mushrooms for extra bulk.
Make it spicy with a dash of chili flakes or hot sauce.
Use any pasta shape you like—it all works.
Why This Oven Pasta Tastes Like Takeout
Unlike basic stovetop pasta, this dish gets that irresistible baked cheesy crust. By stir-frying the noodles with garlic and sauce first, and then oven-finishing with cheese, you get layers of flavor that taste like it took way more effort than it did.
It's a recipe that respects your time but still delivers restaurant vibes.
Final Thoughts
If you’re craving comfort food that hits all the right notes—cheesy, saucy, satisfying—this Baked Cheese Spaghetti is your go-to. Make it for brunch, dinner, or even meal prep. Add a salad and toast, and you’ve got a no-fuss, no-fail meal that everyone will love.
📌 Save this recipe for your next lazy Sunday.
👉 Looking for more easy comfort food ideas? Browse more recipes like this at MyFreshDash – Quick & Easy Recipes
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• Chapagetti w/ egg & cheese — instant jjajang, extra creamy.
• Cream tteokbokki — café-style, mild & cheesy vibes.
• Egg-Spam-Mayo rice bowl — 20-minute comfort to match the mood.
FAQ: How to Make Baked Cheese Spaghetti – Easy Oven Pasta Hack
1. What is this baked cheese spaghetti recipe?
It’s a simple oven-baked pasta where spaghetti is parboiled, tossed with garlic and canned tomato sauce (plus fresh tomato), then topped with a heavy blanket of mozzarella and a little parmesan. After baking, you get a crispy golden cheese top, saucy middle, and soft pasta underneath.
2. What ingredients do I need for this dish?
You need pasta (spaghetti or another short pasta), canned tomato pasta sauce, one fresh tomato, garlic, shredded mozzarella, grated parmesan, parsley flakes, olive oil, and a slice of bread if you want garlic toast on the side. Everything is built from pantry staples plus cheese.
3. Why do you cook the pasta one minute less than the package time?
Parboiling the pasta one minute shy of the usual time keeps it slightly underdone. In the oven, it finishes cooking in the sauce, soaking up flavor instead of going mushy. This is what gives you that restaurant-style baked texture with pasta that still has a little bite.
4. How do I assemble and bake the spaghetti?
First, boil the pasta slightly underdone and drain. Sauté minced garlic in olive oil, toss the pasta in the garlic oil, then add canned tomato sauce and the diced tomato. Transfer everything to an oven-safe dish, top with mozzarella, parmesan, and parsley, and bake at around three hundred seventy-five degrees Fahrenheit until bubbling and golden.
5. How long should I bake it, and what should it look like when it is done?
Baking usually takes about fifteen minutes in a preheated oven or air fryer. The dish is ready when the cheese is fully melted, bubbling, and turning golden brown at the edges. The top should look slightly crisp, while the inside stays saucy and soft.
6. Can I customize this pasta with extra protein or vegetables?
Yes. You can add cooked sausage, bacon, ham, mushrooms, or other quick-cooking vegetables to the pan when you mix the sauce with the pasta. They will warm through in the oven and make the dish heartier without adding much extra effort.
7. How should I serve and store baked cheese spaghetti?
Serve it piping hot right out of the oven, ideally with toasted bread and a simple green salad on the side. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat in the oven or microwave until hot, adding a small splash of water or extra sauce if it looks too dry.
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