Ultimate Cheesy Baked Spaghetti Pie

Ingredients

Spaghetti base:

400 g spaghetti noodles

2 tbsp olive oil

2 large eggs, beaten

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Rich meat sauce:

500 g ground beef (or ground turkey)

1 tbsp olive oil

1 onion, finely chopped

3 garlic cloves, minced

2 cups marinara or pasta sauce

1 tsp Italian seasoning

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Cheesy layers and topping:

2 cups mozzarella cheese, freshly shredded

1/2 cup ricotta cheese (optional)

2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (for garnishing)

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 190°C (375°F). Cook the spaghetti until just al dente, drain, and toss with olive oil.

2. Stir the beaten eggs and Parmesan into the warm spaghetti so it binds together.

3. Cook the onion and garlic in olive oil until soft, add the ground meat and cook until browned and it reaches 160°F (71°C) for beef or 165°F (74°C) for turkey. Stir in the marinara, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper and simmer for 5 minutes.

4. Press half the spaghetti into a greased pie dish or springform pan to form a base and sides.

5. Layer with half the meat sauce, half the mozzarella and the ricotta if using, then repeat with the remaining spaghetti, sauce and cheese.

6. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the cheese is bubbly and golden.

7. Rest for 10 minutes before slicing, then garnish with parsley and serve.

Cooking tips

Cooking the spaghetti just al dente keeps it from turning mushy in the oven.

Resting before slicing is essential; cutting too early makes the pie fall apart.

A springform pan gives the cleanest slices, but a deep pie dish works too.

Frequently asked questions