Description
A comforting and flavorful tomato and mozzarella spaghetti bake combining tender spaghetti with a rich tomato sauce, fresh basil, and melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, baked to golden perfection. Perfect for a cozy family meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, chopped
- 2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes
- Good pinch chilli powder
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Pasta and Cheese
- 400g spaghetti, broken into short lengths
- Handful basil leaves, plus a few extra for garnish
- 250g pack mozzarella, sliced
- 50g grated Parmesan (or vegetarian alternative)
Instructions
- Prepare the tomato sauce: Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. In a large pan, warm the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped garlic and fry for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned. Stir in the canned chopped tomatoes and a good pinch of chilli powder. Season with salt and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer gently for 10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken slightly.
- Cook the spaghetti: While the sauce simmers, cook the spaghetti in a large pot of boiling salted water according to package instructions until just tender. Drain the pasta well.
- Combine spaghetti and sauce: Return the drained spaghetti to the pot or a large bowl, then mix in the tomato sauce along with a handful of fresh basil leaves. Toss gently to combine evenly.
- Assemble the bake: Spoon half of the spaghetti mixture into a large ovenproof dish, spreading it out evenly. Arrange half the sliced mozzarella over the top, then sprinkle with half of the grated Parmesan cheese. Repeat the layers with the remaining spaghetti mixture, mozzarella, and Parmesan.
- Bake the dish: Place the assembled dish into the preheated oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the top is lightly browned and bubbling.
- Garnish and serve: Remove the bake from the oven and scatter extra fresh basil leaves on top. Serve warm alongside a big green salad for a complete and satisfying meal.
Notes
- Breaking the spaghetti into shorter lengths helps it mix better with the sauce and fits nicely in the baking dish.
- Adjust the chilli powder based on your preferred heat level or omit for a milder flavor.
- You can substitute Parmesan with a vegetarian hard cheese alternative if you prefer.
- This dish can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated before baking; just add a few extra minutes to the baking time if baking from cold.
- Leftovers can be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: tomato spaghetti bake, mozzarella pasta bake, baked spaghetti, vegetarian pasta recipe, easy Italian dinner, cheesy pasta bake
