🧾 Ingredients
🍝 For the pasta:
- 400–500g spaghetti
- 1 tablespoon salt (for boiling water)
🥩 For the meat sauce:
- 400g ground beef (or minced meat)
- 1 onion (finely chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cups tomato sauce (or crushed tomatoes)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon oregano (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin (optional for Moroccan touch)
🥛 For the white sauce (béchamel):
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 2 cups milk (warm)
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Pinch of nutmeg (optional but amazing flavor)
🧀 For topping:
- 1.5 to 2 cups shredded cheese (mozzarella, cheddar, or mix)
- Optional: Parmesan
👨🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Cook the spaghetti
Bring a large pot of salted water to boil.
- Add spaghetti
- Cook until al dente (not too soft)
- Drain and set aside
👉 Tip: Don’t overcook, because it will bake again later.
2. Prepare the meat sauce
In a pan over medium heat:
- Add olive oil
- Cook onions until soft
- Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute
- Add ground meat and cook until browned
Now add:
- Tomato sauce
- Tomato paste
- Salt, pepper, paprika, oregano
Let it simmer for 10–15 minutes until thick and rich.
👉 You want a thick sauce, not watery.
3. Make the béchamel sauce
In another pan:
- Melt butter
- Add flour and stir for 1–2 minutes
- Slowly add warm milk while whisking
Keep stirring until smooth and creamy.
Add:
- Salt
- Pepper
- Nutmeg
Cook until slightly thick.
4. Assemble the layers
Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F).
In a baking dish:
Layer 1:
- Spaghetti
Layer 2:
- Meat sauce
Layer 3:
- White sauce
Repeat layers if you want (like lasagna).
Finish with:
- White sauce
- Lots of shredded cheese on top
5. Bake
Bake for 30–40 minutes until:
- Cheese is melted and golden
- Edges are slightly crispy
- Inside is bubbling
👉 Optional: Broil for 2–3 minutes for a perfect crust.
🍽️ Serving Ideas
- Serve hot with salad 🥗
- Add chili flakes if you like spicy 🌶️
- Perfect with garlic bread
🔥 Pro Tips
✔️ Use mix of cheeses
Mozzarella = stretch
Cheddar = flavor
Parmesan = crispy top
✔️ Let it rest
Wait 10 minutes before cutting so layers stay firm.
✔️ Add veggies
You can add:
- Carrots
- Bell peppers
- Mushrooms
🧠 Variations
🐔 Chicken version
Replace beef with shredded chicken.
🧀 Extra cheesy
Add cheese inside layers, not just on top.
🌶️ Spicy version
Add harissa or chili sauce (Moroccan style 🔥)
🥔 Potato layer
Add thin potato slices for more richness.
🥗 Why You’ll Love It
- Easy to make
- Budget-friendly
- Perfect for meal prep
- Kids LOVE it
❗ Common Mistakes
- Too much liquid sauce → makes it soggy
- Overcooked pasta → becomes mushy
- Not enough seasoning → bland taste
🏁 Final Thoughts
This cheesy baked spaghetti lasagna is one of the best comfort foods you can make at home. It looks impressive, tastes incredible, and is very flexible—you can customize it however you want.