Easy Baked Spaghetti with Melted Mozzarella | Heinen's Grocery Store (2024)

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Ingredients Instructions FAQs

Recipe and photography provided by Heinen’s partner,Chef Billy Parisi.

Incredibly delicious and extra easy to make with pantry staple ingredients, this Baked Spaghetti is like a warm noodle pie topped with heaping handfuls of melted mozzarella. Whip this up when you’re in need of a no-hassle, family-friendly weeknight dinner!

Easy Baked Spaghetti with Melted Mozzarella | Heinen's Grocery Store (1)

Easy Baked Spaghetti with Melted Mozzarella | Heinen's Grocery Store (2)

Easy Baked Spaghetti with Melted Mozzarella

Total time:
0min

Servings:
12

Ingredients

  • 1 yellow onion, peeled
  • 3 carrots, peeled and roughly chopped
  • 3 celery stalks, roughly chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 lb. lean ground beef
  • 32 oz. of Heinen’s marinara or canned crushed tomatoes
  • 1 lb. spaghetti noodles
  • 8 oz. shredded mozzarella
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  2. Add the onions, carrots, celery and garlic to a food processor and pulse on high speed until all ingredients are finely chopped. You can also chop by hand. Set aside.
  3. In a large pot over medium heat, add in the olive oil and cook the ground beef until browned and cooked throughout, about 6-8 minutes.
  4. Add in the finely-chopped vegetables and cook for 12 minutes over medium heat until lightly browned and tender.
  5. Add in the marinara sauce and cook over low heat to keep warm. Adjust seasonings with salt and pepper.
  6. Add the spaghetti to a large pot of boiling salted water and cook for 8-9 minutes, or until just slightly crunchy. Drain and add to a large cast-iron skillet or 13×9 casserole dish.
  7. Add 2/3 of the sauce to the spaghetti and toss until combined. Reserve the rest of the sauce for a later date.
  8. Generously sprinkle the mozzarella over the top of the spaghetti and bake at 350°F for 20 to 25 minutes or until lightly browned and melted.
  9. Garnish with chopped basil (optional).
Easy Baked Spaghetti with Melted Mozzarella | Heinen's Grocery Store (2024)

FAQs

Can you melt fresh mozzarella into pasta? ›

Add 1 cup of pasta water. Add the pasta and toss to emulsify and continue to cook the pasta for 1 more minute (until al dente). Remove the pan from the heat and add 12 ounces of fresh mozzarella balls. Give the pasta another toss; the residual heat will slightly melt the mozzarella balls.

How do you melt mozzarella cheese for noodles? ›

Melt the butter, incorporate the milk/cream and, once hot, sprinkle the cheese in smaller than 1/4 cup increments stirring constantly. Once all the cheese is in and melted, you can then incorporate your pasta.

Is mozzarella cheese good on top of spaghetti? ›

Incredibly delicious and extra easy to make with pantry staple ingredients, this Baked Spaghetti is like a warm noodle pie topped with heaping handfuls of melted mozzarella. Whip this up when you're in need of a no-hassle, family-friendly weeknight dinner!

Does fresh mozzarella melt the same as regular mozzarella? ›

They don't melt as well as whole-milk mozzarella, and they also tend to pull away in sheets rather than ooze into stringy goodness. If possible, it's best to eat fresh mozzarella on the day it was made without refrigerating it.

Is it OK to use mozzarella cheese in pasta? ›

Yes, use any cheese you prefer, but I enjoy the fresh mozzarella best as it melts into the noodles throughout the dish giving it a cheesy texture.

Can you melt mozzarella cheese into pasta sauce? ›

it's very simple – a flavoursome tomato sauce with lots garlic, basil and a hint of chilli into which a handful of mozzarella cubes are added just before serving. the cheese slowly melts into the sauce and before you know it you're twirling mozzarella strands round your fork as well as linguine.

Can you melt mozzarella into sauce? ›

A common ingredient in everybody's favorite pizza, mozzarella won't melt fully like other cheeses. It does reach a soft and gooey state, making it a fun feature for paninis, pizzas, and mozza sticks. You can use it in sauces only if you combine it with other cheeses.

What is the best melting cheese for spaghetti? ›

8 Best Cheeses for Melting in Pastas, Paninis, Omelets, Casseroles, and More
  1. Fontina. Fontina can be buttery and a bit fruity; Fontina Val d'Aosta, from Italy's Aosta Valley, is firmer, more pungent, and nuttier (and always made of raw milk). ...
  2. Gouda. ...
  3. Asiago. ...
  4. Taleggio. ...
  5. Reblochon. ...
  6. Provolone. ...
  7. Mozzarella. ...
  8. Gruyère.
Oct 18, 2023

Why won't my mozzarella melt in sauce? ›

Fresh mozzarella does not melt well because it is stored in brine. Because of the high moisture content, fresh mozzarella releases water when it melts. This can ruin your pizza and make it watery. You can use processed mozzarella in your pizza, or you can use a mix of milk, half-and-half, or cream.

How do you melt mozzarella cheese to liquid? ›

Use low heat: Mozzarella cheese should be melted over low heat to prevent it from separating into solids and oil. High heat can cause the cheese to burn and become oily. Grate or shred the cheese: Grated or shredded mozzarella cheese will melt more quickly and evenly than sliced cheese.

How do you melt mozzarella on top of pasta? ›

In a large frying pan on medium heat, add oil, onion, garlic, spices and tomatoes, fry until soft and lightly browned. Add cooked pasta, 1/2 ladle of pasta water and mozzarella, toss gently until completely combined on medium heat for 1-2 minutes until mozzarella starts to melt.

What kind of mozzarella is used for pasta? ›

A mozzarella log works well at room temperature or baked in a pasta dish. With a little bit of a longer shelf life than the water-soaked mozzarella, the cheese found in a log has slightly lower moisture while still maintaining a nice texture and fresh taste.

Which mozzarella cheese is best for pasta? ›

Low moisture mozzarella

This cheese has less water content than fresh mozzarella and is not packaged with brine. It also melts beautifully making it a perfect cheese for gooey pizzas. Low-moisture mozzarella has a stronger flavour than fresh mozzarella and aside from pizzas, it's also a great addition to pasta dishes.

Why does fresh mozzarella not melt well? ›

Fresh mozzarella does not melt well because it is stored in brine. Because of the high moisture content, fresh mozzarella releases water when it melts. This can ruin your pizza and make it watery. You can use processed mozzarella in your pizza, or you can use a mix of milk, half-and-half, or cream.

Does fresh mozzarella melt down? ›

Mozzarella: Capable of melting into a stringy, smooth texture, mozzarella possesses a mild flavor that blends well with other flavors in dishes. Low-moisture mozzarella and fresh mozzarella are among the most popular melting cheeses to use in recipes for pizza and pasta dishes.

Can you melt fresh mozzarella balls? ›

Let the cheese balls heat and start to melt. As they melt, they will release some liquid. If necessary, use an oven mitt to carefully lift the skillet and drain some of the liquid from it. Return the skillet to the stovetop and cook until bubbling and melted, stirring often, for about 10 minutes.

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