One Skillet Baked Spaghetti

This Skillet Spaghetti recipe comes together in a single skillet and is finished under the broiler to brown the cheese. Delicious! 

It’s no secret that I love pasta. If I had to choose between pasta and cupcakes… actually, I don’t even want to think about that. It’s my comfort food of choice, and my go-to when I run out of ideas for dinner. We eat some form of pasta at least twice a week, but rarely have traditional spaghetti and meatballs. 

Sign up for my free pasta e-book here and I’ll send you the recipes for all my favorite pasta dishes!

This is my favorite way to make spaghetti — I mean, who wants to dirty more dishes than you have to? And I don’t know what my problem is but I can NEVER have the noodles and marinara sauce ready at the same time. I always start them together and forget to factor in time for the water to boil. This baked spaghetti casserole recipe solves all my problems.

Ingredients for Skillet Spaghetti 

This is such an easy baked spaghetti recipe, and it requires ingredients you likely have on hand already. Win! 

• Ground beef 
• Thin spaghetti
• Water
• Crushed tomatoes 
• Onion
• Garlic
• Shredded Mozzarella 
• Butter
• Olive oil
• Granulated sugar 
• Dried parsley, basil, and oregano 
• Salt and pepper 

How to Make Baked Spaghetti in a Skillet 

1. Add the olive oil and butter to a cast iron skillet, then saute the onions, salt and pepper. Cook until tender.
2. Add the ground beef and cook through.
3. Pour in the can of crushed tomatoes, sugar, parsley, basil, and oregano.
4. Add in the water and mix until well combined.
5. Break the spaghetti noodles in half and add them to the pan.
6. Bring to a simmer and cook until pasta is al dente.
7. Once the spaghetti is cooked, top with shredded cheese and cook under the broiler until the cheese is melted and starting to brown.

What Size Skillet Should I Use? 

For this skillet spaghetti recipe, I used a cast iron skillet that’s 11 ¾ inches in diameter. A smaller skillet may work if it’s very deep. 

Can I Use Another Type of Pasta? 

Possibly, but a different pasta shape may alter the cook time. Thin spaghetti cooks quickly and doesn’t need as much water, which is why I use it in this cheesy baked spaghetti!

Tips for the Best Baked Spaghetti 

• Note that this recipe calls for thin spaghetti, not regular spaghetti. That’s because thin spaghetti cooks more quickly and requires less water.
• Likewise, this recipe calls for crushed tomatoes and not diced tomatoes. Diced tomatoes may result in a runnier sauce. 
• Push the noodles down into the sauce after adding them to the skillet. You want them to soak up to excess liquid, not rest on top and dry out. 

More Easy Pasta Dinners: 

• Homemade Spaghettios and Meatballs
• Simple Alfredo Sauce
• Italian Stuffed Shells
• 4-Ingredient Chicken Rigatoni
• Italian Sausage Pasta 

Baked Skillet Spaghetti

4.12 from 9 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 806kcal

Author: Emily Grace

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 lb ground beef
• ▢ 8 oz thin spaghetti
• ▢ 2 cups water
• ▢ 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
• ▢ 3/4 cup onion , finely diced
• ▢ 3 garlic cloves , minced
• ▢ 8 oz shredded mozzarella
• ▢ 1 tbsp butter
• ▢ 1 tbsp olive oil
• ▢ 1/4 tsp granulated sugar
• ▢ 1 tsp dried parsley
• ▢ 1/2 tsp dried basil
• ▢ 1/4 tsp dried oregano
• ▢ 1 tsp salt
• ▢ 1/2 tsp black pepper

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

• In a large cast iron skillet, saute the onions, salt and pepper in the butter and olive oil over medium high heat.
• Cook until tender, about 3 minutes.
• Add the ground beef and cook through.
• Drain the excess fat liquid now if necessary.
• Pour in the can of crushed tomatoes, sugar, parsley, basil, and oregano.
• Add in the water and mix until well combined.
• Break the spaghetti noodles in half and add them to the pan.
• Make sure to push them down under the sauce.
• Bring to a slight boil, and cook 9-11 minutes or until pasta is al dente.
• Be sure to stir occasionally to keep the noodles from sticking together.
• Once the spaghetti is cooked, top with shredded cheese and bake under the broiler until the cheese is melted and starting to brown.

Nutrition

Calories: 806kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 43g | Fat: 43g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Cholesterol: 132mg | Sodium: 1312mg | Potassium: 1109mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 900IU | Vitamin C: 21.2mg | Calcium: 401mg | Iron: 5.9mg

Did you make this recipe? Mention @GraceGoodEats or tag #graceandgoodeats!

I have a relationship with Le Creuset which includes receiving products for review.