Description
Friendship Spaghetti Pie is a comforting and hearty baked pasta dish that combines tender spaghetti mixed with eggs and parmesan, layered with savory ricotta and garlic, topped with a flavorful meat marinara sauce and melted mozzarella cheese. Perfect for sharing with friends or family, this recipe makes two generous 9-inch pies that can be baked fresh or frozen for later.
Ingredients
Scale
Spaghetti Mixture
- 1 lb dry spaghetti
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 4 large eggs, beaten
- 1 cup parmesan cheese, grated
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Meat Sauce
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1/2 small yellow onion, diced
- 1 (32 oz) jar marinara sauce
Ricotta Layer
- 1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- Pinch of salt
Toppings
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, grated
Other
- 2 9-inch pie pans (aluminium)
Instructions
- Cook Spaghetti: In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook 1 lb of dry spaghetti according to the package directions until al dente. Drain the spaghetti and immediately stir in 4 tablespoons of butter until melted. Set aside to cool slightly.
- Prepare Meat Sauce: While the pasta cooks, heat a skillet over medium-high heat and brown 1 lb of lean ground beef along with 1/2 small diced yellow onion until the meat is fully cooked and onions are softened. Drain any excess fat. Stir in one 32 oz jar of marinara sauce and remove from heat.
- Mix Spaghetti with Eggs and Cheese: In a large bowl, combine the drained spaghetti with the beaten eggs (4 large), grated parmesan cheese (1 cup), and season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Toss well to mix evenly.
- Assemble Spaghetti Base: Divide the spaghetti mixture evenly between two 9-inch pie pans, spreading the pasta out in an even layer in each pan.
- Prepare Ricotta Mixture: In a medium bowl, stir together 1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese, 1 minced clove of garlic, 1 teaspoon dried basil, and a pinch of salt until well combined.
- Add Ricotta Layer: Dollop the ricotta mixture evenly over the spaghetti in each pie pan, then smooth it out to form a uniform layer.
- Add Meat Sauce and Mozzarella: Spoon half of the meat marinara sauce over the ricotta layer in each pie pan. Top with 1 cup of grated mozzarella cheese per pie, distributing evenly.
- Freeze or Bake: If you want to freeze the pies, cover each pan tightly with plastic wrap followed by foil, and freeze until solid. For fresh baking, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Bake: Place the pies on a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for about 25 minutes until the sauce is bubbly and the mozzarella is melted and golden. If baking from frozen, increase the baking time to approximately 45 minutes.
Notes
- You can prepare these pies ahead and freeze them for easy dinners later.
- Use lean ground beef to reduce excess grease and fat in the meat sauce.
- For a vegetarian version, substitute the ground beef with cooked lentils or chopped mushrooms and use a vegetable-based marinara sauce.
- Adjust the amount of garlic and basil to your taste preferences.
- Allow pies to cool slightly before slicing for easier serving.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Keywords: spaghetti pie, baked spaghetti, Italian casserole, pasta pie, ricotta pasta bake, meat sauce spaghetti, comfort food
