3-Sauce Baked Spaghetti

This delicious 3-Sauce Baked Spaghetti is the ultimate comfort food, packed with creamy Alfredo, rich meat sauce, and a hint of pesto. It’s a quick and easy meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights or a cozy family dinner. Plus, you can swap ingredients with what you have on hand—making it both versatile and satisfying!

Recipe Ingredients:

Meat Sauce:

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 jalapeño, seeded and diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary
• 1 pound spicy breakfast sausage
• 1 pound ground chuck steak
• 1/4 cup tomato paste
• 32 ounces marinara sauce (4 cups)

Alfredo Sauce:

• 1 stick (8 tablespoons) salted butter
• 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 cups freshly grated Parmesan

For Assembly and Serving:

• 1 pound spaghetti, cooked according to package instructions
• 1/2 cup jarred pesto
• 2 cups grated mozzarella
• Fresh basil, for garnish
• Crusty bread, for serving

How To Make 3-Sauce Baked Spaghetti?

1. Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 220°C / 425°F.
2. Make the meat sauce: Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the diced onion, bell pepper, jalapeño, garlic, and rosemary, then sauté for 2–3 minutes until softened. Add the sausage and ground beef, breaking it up as it cooks, and brown for 6–7 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and marinara sauce, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer.
3. Prepare the Alfredo sauce: In a skillet over medium-low heat, melt the butter with the heavy cream. Season with salt and pepper, then stir in the grated Parmesan until smooth and melted. Remove from heat.
4. Assemble the dish: In a 9×13-inch (23×33 cm) baking dish, toss the cooked spaghetti with the pesto until well coated. Pour the Alfredo sauce over the spaghetti and toss again to ensure even coverage.
5. Add the meat sauce and cheese: Spread the meat sauce over the top, leaving a small border so the spaghetti is visible around the edges. Sprinkle the grated mozzarella evenly over the top.
6. Bake and serve: Place in the oven and bake for 10–15 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Let it rest for a few minutes before garnishing with fresh basil. Serve warm with crusty bread on the side.

Recipe Tips

• Brown the Meat Well : Cook the sausage and beef until they are deep brown. This adds a rich, deep flavor to the meat sauce. Don’t rush this step!
• Use Freshly Grated Cheese : Pre-grated cheese doesn’t melt as smoothly. Grating Parmesan and mozzarella yourself will give the dish a creamy and gooey texture.
• Don’t Overcook the Spaghetti : Since the pasta bakes in the oven, cook it 1–2 minutes less than the package says. This keeps it from turning mushy.
• Layer the Meat Sauce Properly : Leave a small border around the edges so you can see some of the spaghetti. This makes the dish look more appealing and helps balance flavors.
• Let It Rest Before Serving : After baking, let the spaghetti sit for 5–10 minutes before cutting into it. This helps the sauce settle and makes it easier to serve without falling apart.

Check out More Recipes:

• 3 Meat, 3 Bean, 3 Chili Chili
• 6 Hour Tri-tip Marinade
• Chicken Cacciatore Recipe
• Grilled Leg Of Lamb With Garlic And Rosemary
• Spaghetti And Meat Balls With Tomato Sauce