Many thanks to Mezzetta for sponsoring this post. Baked Spaghetti has layers of flavorful marinara meat sauce, two kinds of cheese, roasted bell peppers, and chopped kalamata olives. It’s a family favorite.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas and I adore the holiday season. It’s probably because my mom and dad always made a big deal out of this special holiday.
Christmas Memories
I remember one particular Christmas morning when I was about 8 or 9 years old. Santa had come and gone and left behind a sleigh full of toys including a bike with that coveted banana seat and streamers cascading from the handlebars.
That was also the year I also received a new pair of roller skates and a wallet with my birthstone and name engraved on the front. I was in Christmas heaven.
As my sister and I began to lace up our skates I could barely hear my mom’s voice over the noise of my brothers pulling on their cowboy boots, hats, and strapping on their six-shooter cap guns as they prepared to take on the wild west of South Georgia.
Mom was trying to tell my sister and me that we had each overlooked one gift. When we heard the word gift, skates were put aside and we bounded back to that beautiful, scratchy cedar tree we had cut down and decorated a few weeks earlier. Presents? No presents here.
Thus began a game of hot, cold. I recall searching high and low until finally, we saw our new watches dangling from the tree looking like bright, shiny ornaments. I’ll never forget that day.
Of course, Christmas was not entirely about the presents. We were taught from an early age the true meaning of Christmas and we always looked forward to visits from our relatives and lots of good food.
Easy Baked Spaghetti
Speaking of hot, this is one of my favorite recipes to make during the Christmas season. Your kids will enjoy my easy Baked Spaghetti. This dish is a favorite with my entire family.
This recipe calls for chopped kalamata olives. If your family doesn’t care for them, feel free to omit the olives.
Easy Baked Spaghetti Ingredients At A Glance
- ground chuck
- Mezzetta pitted kalamata olives, chopped
- roasted bell peppers
- Mezzetta marinara sauce
- mozzarella cheese, shredded
- Parmesan cheese, shredded
- spaghetti
What To Serve With Baked Spaghetti
When I make baked spaghetti, I add garlic bread and a fresh, green salad. If I’m serving dessert, I’ll make easy Tiramisu Parfaits.
The Mezzetta Brand
Did you know that Mezzetta has been family owned since 1935? The fourth generation of the Mezzetta family is continuing the commitment to bring their customers the highest quality foods available.
They source the finest fresh produce from California, Italy, Spain, France, and Greece and prepare them according to their Italian family recipes in the Napa Valley.
Check Out More Delicious Recipes
- Slow Cooker Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
- Easy Baked Chicken Spaghetti
- Speedy Portobello Mushroom Spaghetti
- Shrimp Scampi Over Spaghetti Squash
Baked Spaghetti
Easy Baked Spaghetti is a favorite weeknight meal. Spaghetti is topped with a delicious parmesan marinara.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground chuck
- 1/4 cup Mezzetta pitted kalamata olives, chopped
- 1/4 cup Mezzetta roasted bell peppers
- 1 (25 oz.) jar Mezzetta homestyle marinara sauce
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
- 12 oz. spaghetti
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF.
- Cook spaghetti according to directions. Do not overcook.
- Meanwhile, brown ground chuck and drain. Add the chopped olives, roasted red peppers, and marinara sauce. Stir to combine.
- In a lightly greased 8 x 8" baking pan, spoon in half the meat mixture, 1/2 the mozzarella, and a sprinkling of Parmesan.
- Add all of the spaghetti on top of the cheese mixture. Top with the remaining meat mixture.
- Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese and top with Parmesan cheese.
- Bake in a 350-degree oven for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown.
Notes
When I have company I double this recipe and bake it in a 9 x 13 pan for 45 minutes to an hour.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Mezzetta Pitted Imported Greek Kalamata Olives 2 Jars 10oz/269g Each -
Mezzetta Pepper Bell Red Rstd
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Mezzetta Pepper Bell Red Rstd
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Anchor Hocking 8-InchSquare Glass Baking Dish with TrueFit Cherry Lid -
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Tuscanini Authentic Italian Spaghetti Pasta 16oz (4 Pack) Made with Premium Durum Wheat
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Mezzetta Homestyle Marinara Sauce (6x24.5oz )
Nutrition Information
Yield
6Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 401Total Fat 21gSaturated Fat 8gTrans Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 9gCholesterol 86mgSodium 403mgCarbohydrates 22gFiber 2gSugar 2gProtein 30g
Originally published Dec. 2014 – updated Dec. 2020
24 comments
We have a great Roasted Red Pepper dip we use Mezzetta for when we don’t have time to roast the peppers ourself!
Beautiful pictures and great recipes! I’m I the mood for some Christmas food! Baked spaghetti is so good!
I just love cheese balls, cheese logs, anything cheese related during the holidays. 🙂
I love a good baked spaghetti any time of the year! But I’ve never had a cream cheese and olive log! Interesting!
My husband and kids love spaghetti, but I’ve never made baked spaghetti! I know they’ll love this when I put in our weekly family meal plan! The Southern Cream Cheese Olive log is perfect for holiday entertaining! I’m going to pin both to try this winter!
I remember that Christmas like it was yesterday. 🙂
Wasn’t that the best Christmas ever? Of course, mom and dad always made Christmas special.
I have seen other recipes for Baked Spaghetti, but I’ve never tried one. Yours sounds delish, so I think I need to print it for my Recipe Binder.
We LOVE Mezzeta Olives in our house no lie! The Garlic Stuffed ones go faster than I can keep up if I’m not watching the jar. Off to enter to win.
I’m such an olive lover. Sometimes I top my baked spaghetti with a can of cream of mushroom soup and water, but this version doesn’t need anything else.
Loved the story of you sharing your childhood Christmas memories. Banana seat bikes need to make a comeback. And nothing is better over the winter months than some Baked Spaghetti. That sounds like one full gift basket!
I’m still chucking over your toddler letter to Santa. Really, I’m thinking Huffington Post or some other online mag. It’s that good.
I love Christmas, too and the baked spaghetti looks great!
Thanks, Tiffany, and I love red velvet everything!
Yum, the baked spaghetti looks so good! This is a great idea for these crazy holiday rush nights!
I like that I can put it together earlier in the morning (or the night before) and have it ready to pop in the oven for dinner.
What great memories!!! My sister had the banana seat bike and I had the cool streamers. lol I vividly remember many Christmas moments from my childhood! I can’t wait to try this baked spaghetti! Looks so yummy!
Loved that banana seat bike! Sometimes my cousin, my sister and I would all ride the same bike at the same time, including one on the handlebars. We were little daredevils. 🙂
I love Christmas memories like these. Surprises are fun. i will have to remember this this Christmas and try to make a golden memory for my daughter. Christmas is about Jesus, love and family. PS. the spaghetti looks so good I am going to pin it to my recipe board. 😉
Yes, Christmas is all about Jesus! It’s my most favorite time of the year.
Your Baked Spaghetti looks so delicious! Yumm! My favorite Holiday Party food will be desserts lke cakes, jello, fruit salads and other yummy treats!
I love a good fruit salad with a little bit of toasted coconut. Yum.
Your recipes sound great! I know we’d love both of them.
Both of your recipes sound amazing. I don’t like olives by themselves but don’t mind them in something. 🙂 Thanks for linking up to the Home Matters Linky!
~Bonnie
I always enjoy partying with my friends!
I love baked spaghetti! Thanks for linking up your recipe to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Party! I’ve pinned your post to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Board.