Spaghetti Pie is a family favorite, turning our go-to spaghetti sauce into a delicious baked pasta! In this recipe, spaghetti meets lasagna for a quick weeknight dinner. A pasta crust is filled with meat sauce and a creamy ricotta cheese layer. It’s all baked until golden and bubbly, and sliced like a pie for serving.

We round out the meal with a fresh green salad or Italian salad, and of course, slices of toasty garlic bread.

cheesy slice of Spaghetti Pie on a plate

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Holly’s Recipe Highlights: Spaghetti Pie

Flavor: Rich and meaty, this recipe has buttery pasta baked into a ‘crust’ that’s filled with a hearty meat sauce and cheese and baked until bubbly.

Time-Saving Tip: To save time, use leftover meat sauce and pre-shredded cheeses.

Serving Suggestions: I like to serve it with warm garlic bread and a crisp Caesar or Italian salad for a fresh, balanced meal.

Prep Ahead: This pie can be prepared up to 48 hours before baking. If it is cold from the fridge, you will need to add extra baking time.

Freezer Meal: This can be prepared and frozen before baking. See recipe notes for instructions.

Total time: 60 minutes Serves: 6 Cooking method: Stovetop/oven
Difficulty: Medium, a few steps, but most are pretty simple.

Ingredient Notes

  • Spaghetti: Cook the spaghetti al dente (firm) so the crust holds up well and isn’t too soft.
  • Cheese: Pre-shredded cheese works well in this recipe.
  • Ricotta Cheese: Use ricotta cheese or replace it with cottage cheese. If using cottage cheese, I recommend adding a beaten egg to the mixture as cottage cheese releases a bit of liquid.
  • Ground Beef: Use lean ground beef or replace it with ground turkey or Italian sausage. Be sure to drain well.
  • Pasta Sauce: Use any flavor of marinara sauce or red pasta sauce. Add a few crushed red pepper flakes for a little heat if you’d like.
  • Variations: You can easily customize this spaghetti pie to suit your taste. Try adding sautéed mushrooms or chopped spinach to the sauce for extra vegetables, or swap the beef for Italian sausage for a bolder, more seasoned flavor.

How To Make Spaghetti Pie

spaghetti in a pie dish for spaghetti pie
  1. Press the spaghetti crust into a deep dish pie plate.
meat sauce on top of a spaghetti pie
  1. Layer meat sauce, the cheese mixture, and shredded cheese
baked spaghetti pie in a dish
  1. Bake until browned and bubbly. Rest before cutting.

Tips for Spaghetti Pie

  • Cook Pasta Al Dente: Boil just to al dente so the spaghetti crust stays firm.
  • Butter the Noodles: Toss the hot spaghetti with butter first so it melts evenly and coats the pasta before the eggs are added.
  • Thicken the Sauce: Drain the tomatoes well and simmer the sauce to reduce slightly. A thicker sauce will help the pie slice cleanly.
  • Layer Evenly: Spread each layer all the way to the edge so every slice gets a little of everything.
  • Let It Rest: Cool about 10 minutes before cutting so the pie sets and holds its shape.
Spaghetti pie in a pie plate with a piece being scooped out

Leftovers & Storage

  • Refrigerate: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
  • Freeze: Freeze cooled slices or the whole baked pie wrapped well for up to 4 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating. The ricotta layer may soften slightly after freezing.

More Baked Pasta Recipes

Did you enjoy this Spaghetti Pie Recipe? Leave a comment and rating below.

image of Everyday Comfort cookbook by Holly Nilsson of Spend With Pennies plus text
close up of Spaghetti Pie slice
5 from 174 votes

Spaghetti Pie

Servings 6 servings
Classic spaghetti gets a casserole-style upgrade in this easy spaghetti pie recipe with ricotta, beefy tomato sauce, and lots of melty cheese.
Servings 6 servings
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
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Ingredients  

  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Spaghetti Crust

  • 6 ounces spaghetti
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Cheese Layer

  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or 2 teaspoons dried parsley
  • ½ teaspoon dried basil or 1 tablespoon fresh

Meat Sauce

  • 1 pound lean ground beef or Italian sausage
  • ½ small onion diced
  • 14.5 ounces canned diced tomatoes drained
  • 2 cups pasta sauce or marinara sauce

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a deep-dish pie plate.
  • Brown the beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Drain any fat. Add the onion and cook until slightly softened, about 3 minutes. Add tomatoes and pasta sauce, and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes or until thickened.
  • Meanwhile, in a large pot of salted water, cook the spaghetti al dente (firm) according to package directions. Drain well.
  • Place the spaghetti in the prepared pie plate. Add the butter and toss until the spaghetti is coated. Stir in the eggs and parmesan cheese. Press to form a crust.
  • In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, parsley, and basil. Spread the cheese mixture into the spaghetti crust. Top with the meat sauce.
  • Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes. Top with mozzarella and bake for an additional 5 minutes, or until cheese is browned and bubbly. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

To freeze: Line your pie plate with parchment paper. Prepare the pie as directed without baking. Cover tightly and freeze. Once frozen, use the parchment paper to lift the pie out of the baking dish and transfer it to freezer bag or seal it with plastic wrap and foil. To bake from frozen unwrap the pie and place it back into the pie plate. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 25 to 35 minutes or until heated through, adding the cheese during the last 5 minutes.
5 from 174 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 428 | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 141mg | Sodium: 849mg | Potassium: 831mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1075IU | Vitamin C: 14.4mg | Calcium: 421mg | Iron: 4.3mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Main Course
Cuisine American, Italian
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cozy and hearty Spaghetti Pie with writing
Spaghetti Pie in a dish and a slice plated with a title
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About the author

Holly Nilsson is the creator of Spend With Pennies, where she creates easy, comforting recipes made for real life. She is also the author of “Everyday Comfort,” which promises to inspire even more hearty, home-cooked meals.
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5 from 174 votes (146 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. I made the recipe as listed, with the exception of using cottage cheese plus an egg instead of ricotta cheese. It is so easy and delicious! My husband and I really enjoyed it! Thank you!5 stars

  2. Made exactly as written and DELICIOUS! A big hit with family. Even better the next day. Do you have a recipe for fettucine alfredo shrimp pie?5 stars

    1. Joyce, we are glad that you enjoyed it. And no we don’t have a recipe for fettucine alfredo shrimp pie.

  3. Deliciousness!!! The only changes I made was I use Parmesan, Romano blend cheese and in the meat sauce I sprinkled a little red hot pepper flakes in the sauce for some spice. First time making a spaghetti pie and it was the Bomb!!!5 stars

  4. Was great cooked same day. Please confirm this: best to freeze before cooking, when ready thaw overnite and then cook per your directions?5 stars

    1. Yes this is correct. Freeze before baking and thaw in the fridge overnight. You may need to add about 10 minutes to the baking time if it’s cold from the fridge.

  5. This is one of my favourite dishes. I am a vegetarian so I use my vegetarian Bolognese sauce recipe instead of meat sauce but, otherwise follow this recipe exactly. It is delicious and perfect as a make ahead meal. Thank you for sharing.5 stars

  6. HI there, do the diced tomatos melt in and basically dissolve in sauce or do they stay kind of chunky? I’m making this tonight for my Dad and I’d like it to be to his liking. Thank you in advance!