Scooter’s Baked Spaghetti with French-Fried Onions is a one-dish masterpiece. French-fried onions sprinkled over layers of spaghetti, cream cheese,
Expanded and updated on January 14, 2020.
What kind of recipe makes your all-star list?
If you are like me, it must be:
- Easy
- Made from ingredients you are likely to have in your pantry
- Something most people (including kids and picky eaters) will like
Recipes you can make ahead of time get bonus points.
Scooter’s Baked Spaghetti Casserole fulfills all these requirements. The first time or two seems like a bit of trouble. But with a little experience, you won’t need the recipe.
Who or what is “Scooter?”
Scooter is one of my favorite people from way back. She is an excellent cook. I’m so happy she is willing to share her recipes.
If you like this one, check out more of her recipes: Crunchy Almond Chicken, Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Pork Tenderloin, and Warm and Toasty Nuts with Rosemary and Shallots.
Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes. But don’t add the French Fried Onions.
Assemble all layers except the onions and cover with plastic wrap, then foil. (Spaghetti sauce will cause small holes in the foil where it touches.) Refrigerate for up to 24 hours.
Can I freeze this recipe?
Yes–before you bake it. Cover assembled but unbaked spaghetti casserole (without onion rings) with plastic wrap, then a layer of aluminum foil.
When you get ready to bake it, remove the plastic wrap and cover it with foil until the casserole is heated through. Remove foil halfway through baking to allow the cheese to brown.
Whether you refrigerate or freeze, don’t forget about the French Fried Onions. Sprinkle them evenly over the top of the casserole 5 minutes before baking is completed.
RELATED POST: How to Make Ciabatta with a Bread Machine
Ingredients and Substitutions:
|Ground Beef
Substitute breakfast sausage or Italian sausage for a portion or all of the ground beef. I like to use 50% beef and 50% hot breakfast sausage.
Leave out the meat for a vegetarian meal.
|Spaghetti
Substitute zucchini for the spaghetti for a gluten-free, veggie-packed version. Use a spiralizer or a mandolin to make noodles from 3 medium zucchini. No peeling is necessary.
Squeeze as much moisture out of the zucchini as you can before assembling the casserole.
|Sauce
My favorite sauce is Victoria White Linen Marinara Sauce. It contains less sugar than most. It’s available at Costco as of this writing. Also seen on Amazon.
Have a favorite spaghetti sauce recipe? Go ahead and use it in this recipe. You will need about 3 to 3-1/2 cups of sauce.
|Cream Cheese
Neufchâtel is a good replacement for cream cheese if you’re trying to cut the fat. Read more about Neufchâtel on this informative post.
You could leave out the cream cheese, but please don’t. It won’t be the same. Even if you think you don’t like cream cheese, it’s magic in this recipe.
|French-Fried Onion Rings
Don’t be tempted to leave these out! It would be like ordering a cheeseburger without cheese. What’s the point?
The onion rings and cream cheese layer make this recipe extra special and unique.
If you need gluten-free and/or grain-free, check out these onion rings available at Asian supermarkets and Amazon. They are fried but without a batter coating.
Substitute pan-fried shallots for the onion rings. (See picture below). You will need at least 4-5 shallots for this recipe. Sautè sliced shallots in a frying pan with a little bit of oil. Fry at med-low temperature until brown, stirring frequently.
How to assemble Scooter’s Baked Spaghetti Casserole:
RELATED POST: French Bread (Made in a Bread Machine)
How to layer Scooter’s Spaghetti:
Put the casserole back into the oven until onions are toasty. Keep your eyes on it. The onions can burn faster than you can answer the door.
Pin the picture below to save for later.
If you make this recipe and enjoy it, consider helping other readers and me by returning to this post. Leave a rating on the recipe card itself underneath the picture. Although always appreciated, comments aren’t required. Thank you for visiting! Paula
Scooter's Spaghetti with French-Fried Onion Rings
Layered spaghetti casserole topped with French-Fried onions is a family favorite!
Ingredients
- 8 ounces uncooked spaghetti
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 large can spaghetti sauce (26.5 ounces)
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/2 cup chopped green peppers (I usually omit or substitute red peppers)
- 1/3 cup chopped onions
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 2 tablespoons milk
- Fresh grated Parmesan cheese
- French-fried onions (small can)
Instructions
- Cook spaghetti according to directions on the package. Cook to al dente, drain and set aside.
- Brown ground beef, then drain excess grease.
- Add spaghetti sauce to ground beef and heat.
- Combine onions, peppers and butter in small glass bowl. Cover and microwave 4 minutes on HIGH until soft.
- Add cream cheese and milk to vegetables and stir well. (If cream cheese is not soft, nuke it for 20-30 seconds to make it easy to spread.)
- Using a 12 x 8-inch baking dish (or something close), assemble in the following order: thin layer of spaghetti sauce, cooked spaghetti, cream cheese/vegetable mixture, remaining spaghetti sauce, parmesan cheese (amount subject to your own taste)
- Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.
- Top with french-fried onions and continue baking 5 more minutes. (This is the secret ingredient--don't let them burn.)
Notes
Make this ahead of time and refrigerate or freeze without the French Fried onions. Don't forget to add them 5 minutes before casserole is finished cooking.
Recommended Products
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Swissmar Borner V-1001 V-Slicer Plus Mandoline 5 Piece Set - Spiralizer 5-Blade Vegetable Slicer, Strongest-and-Heaviest Spiral Slicer, Best Veggie Pasta Spaghetti Maker for Keto/Paleo/Gluten-Free, Comes with 4 Recipe Ebooks
- Barilla Pasta, Spaghetti, 16 Ounce (Pack of 8)
- JHC Fried Onion, Large, 8-Ounce
- French's Original Crispy French Fried Onions 26.5 oz
- Victoria White Linen Marinara Sauce Twin pack ( 2- 40oz bottles )
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 10 servings Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 317 Total Fat: 18g Saturated Fat: 9g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 7g Cholesterol: 67mg Sodium: 200mg Carbohydrates: 21g Fiber: 1g Sugar: 3g Protein: 17g
Elizabeth Brown
I just placed this in a 9×9 and placed in the fridge for a friend tomorrow. How long do you suggest baking? Does 20 covered and about 15 uncovered (prior to onions) sound reasonable?
Paula
Sounds about right to me. Wish I was your friend.
Jamie Spano
Thank you SO much for this recipe. I’ve been using it for years, it NEVER disappoints & everyone loves it!! It’s my #1 go to recipe for any function or family get together. LOVE it!!
Paula
Thanks for coming back to say so, Jamie. You’re the best!
Katie
This is such a crowd pleaser- thank you! Would love your help with how I would reheat if I froze one. Thank you so much!
Paula
First, don’t put the French-Fried onions on the top if you know you are going to freeze. When I pull this casserole out of the freezer, I just zap it in the microwave to thaw, add the French-Fried onions and bake about 5 minutes to crisp and brown them. Alternatively, you could place frozen spaghetti in the refrigerator to thaw overnight, then put in the oven to bake 20-30 minutes until bubbly, then add French-Fried onions and bake for 5 more minutes. Does that help?
Katie Marko
So helpful- thank you!
Marilyn Gray
I can’t wait to try this…sounds like it would be a good one to take to church meetings. Made my mouth water! Thanks so much for sharing!
Paula
Yes Marilyn. Not only is it good for church meetings, but also for taking to people you may be helping with prepared meals.
Susan St, john
You recip, Scooter’s Spaghetti just had to be made! I tweaked it little bit. I have to have garlic. Made a double batch and you don’t need 16 ounces of Spaghetti. Doubling the other amounts worked! It really doesn’t matter where are placed.
When you take a bite the tongue will want more!
We vote on recipes and this is a 9.
Paula
Glad you liked it Susan. We are enjoying it with zucchini noodles these days.
Jan
I made this yesterday with zucchini noodles I made with a spiralizer. Also used fat free cream cheese. It was delicious. Both my husband and I loved it.
Paula
Jan,
I have done this too and we also loved it. No need to add another vegetable to the menu which is also a plus. Thanks for writing.
Melissa
Hi there! New to your site and really like it! I just made this and improvised with egg noodles instead of spaghetti as I was out and half diced tomatoes and half tomato sauce. I may add garlic and more spices next time. Any reason why you don’t spice it up more? Thank you for a great recipe!
JapanMan
I am a recent college graduate who just moved to Japan. I decided this would be a good time to start trying to cook things since I am living on my own. This was amazing! I had several friends try and we all loved it. Thank you for sharing!
Judy Beaver
I attended a Thanksgiving Dinner at my daughter, Kelley’s house. I took Scotter’s Spaghetti Casserole. It was delicious and different. We will make this again. Thanks for sharing this recipe with us.
Paula
I wish I was at your Thanksgiving dinner. 🙂
Cici
Thank you for a great recipe! I made this for my boyfriend and he is OBSESSED! He requests it all the time. I was wondering if there are any substitutes for the cream cheese?? I’m not a huge cream cheese person but he loves this recipe so much, I was hoping to find a good substitute. Can I use ricotta maybe??
Paula
Cici,
I don’t think ricotta would be the same but it might be good on its on merits. To be honest, I haven’t tried anything else.
Jenni W.
So this is my second time making this recipe and since we’re not huge fans if peppers I’ve omitted them both times. However, the first time I subbed sweet italian sausage for the ground beef and topped it with a layer of mozzarella. Of course, my Hubby said it needed more kick to it. I also noticed that even with using the appropriate amounts of sauce, noodles, and other ingredients, the dish was quite literally overflowing. So this time I cooked a pound each of mild and sweet italian sausage, omitted the mozzarella and just used the Parmesan. Used a 9×13 Pyrex dish, and a little extra sauce. Turned out fabulous!
Kim
I think I would add some pepperoni…mmmmm
Paula
Interesting idea, Kim. You must be a pepperoni lover.
judy
how can I get the nutritional facts on this?
Natalie
My friends and I have decided to start a monthly cooking night at my house and this was the first recipe we tried, needless to say started the monthly ritual off with a bang!! This was sooo good, and it was also so simple to make. They each took some home for their families and it was a big hit with everyone at home as well, thank you for the great recipe!!
mrs liz
This recipe is great! I love the french onions on top! I actually make a similar type dish i call spaghetti caserolle which has been passed down in my family and i do it a bit differently but mixing this recipe with mine came out fantastic!
I f anyone is interested in trying my twist on it, it is quite simple.
I cook the spaghetti in salt water, once it is done i put it on the borttom of the baking dish. Meanwhile i brown the beef with garlic salt, minced or freshly chopped onions and skme salt and pepper and a dash of italian seasoning. Once browned i put in my favorite sauce ” bertolli roasted garlic and olive oil” and let it simmer a few minutes. While sause is cooking , i spread sour cream and cream cheese on top of noodles and make sure they are coated well with the mixture. Then i pour the beef and sause on top. Then sprinkle mozerella cheese all over the top and then add the french onions.
Camille Keiser
This recipe was amazing! Thank you so much for sharing it!
max
spaghetty looks good but , there is two different directions for layering. do you put the spaghetti first or the sauce ?
Jessica
Made this last night and it could easily be one of my new favorite meals. I substituted crushed croutons for the french fried onions and didn’t add the oninons to the veggie mixture but it still tasted fabulous. I will def be making this again.
tootsie
i just pulled this out of the oven and i’m waiting for the garlic bread to cook…. i used a spicy arrabbiata sauce and a lb of ground beef….lots of onion, basil, garlic and salt and pepper. i shredded the onion and green pepper which created lots of yummy juice (and my family doesnt like chunks of onions or peppers) and i also added halved, large black olives to the cream cheese mix. i added a generous layer of mozzerella and then a TON of parm cheese. i used a large can of the french fried onions and crushed them before sprinkling them on…..omg i cant wait to eat this!!!!
April
Excellent recipe, whole family raved. It’s a keeper!
Liz
Found this recipe via pinterest! I’ve been thinking about it for months — waiting to move in to our new house (beautiful kitchen!). Thanks for posting this! As a newbie to the cooking world, I found this easy and delicious!
Gina
Holy Cow! This recipe is amazing! Most other baked pastas seem dry to me, but the cream cheese in this does the trick! Thank you!
Rebecca
I made this last night with spaghetti squash instead of spaghetti . It was so yummy! Thanks for the recipe!
Valerie
Sounds yummy!
casey
I made this tonight for our family dinner……there no left overs. It was awesome. Thank you so much for sharing!
rld
I found this recipe on Pinterest over a year ago and it quickly became a family favorite. Comfort food at it’s finest! When the scale hit an all time high last August, I decided it was time for a lifestyle change and cut out pasta, among other things. Along the way, I discovered that I did not really miss the pasta, but I did miss the things you could put on it. And I did miss making “Scooter’s Spaghetti.” Recently it occurred to me that I could still make it, by replacing the pasta with spaghetti squash. So now I prepare the meat sauce and the cream cheese, half the regular spaghetti, and I roast a spaghetti squash. When it comes time to prepare the casserole, I use two smaller dishes and prepare them according to the recipe, splitting the meat sauce and cream cheese mixture in half — one with pasta (for my kids) and one with spaghetti squash (for me). I am still working on the best way to prepare the squash so that it doesn’t release too much water once I bake it with the sauce, but in the meantime, it’s just as tasty (to me) as the pasta version, and I am still sticking to my eating plan. I am down 30 pounds and back to the weight I was before I had my 3 kids. It feels great, and feels even better to know that I can still indulge in comforting food like this recipe, and not feel guilty about it! Anyway, I never really comment on blogs, but I had to thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe with us, and I hope I might inspire anyone who is trying to live with balance. 🙂
Paula
Robyn,
You are one creative gal. Way to go and congrats on your weight loss. I hope others will be inspired to try modifying their favorite recipes, including this one, when it is appropriate and/or necessary to cut back. Thanks so much for taking the time to share your method.
Lenora Fitzsimonds
My husband and I loved this dish. I did add a small can of sliced black olives and a small can of sliced green chili peppers to the vegetables. I will defenitly be making this again.
Lenora Fitzsimonds
I made the Scotter’s Spaghetti tonight and it is definetly a keeper. My husband loves it!! I did add black olives and diced green chiles to the vegetables. Since there is only two of us we did freeze the remainder of it.
L
Paula
Hi Lenora,
Love your additions. We are eating leftovers of this spaghetti right now–and enjoying it immensely. 🙂 Thanks for writing.
Dee
I made this recently and mine came out a little dry (the noodles)…the spaghetti/meat sauce and cream cheese mixture just stayed on top of the noodles during cooking when I thought it would ‘melt’ through. The taste was great… made the mistake of omitting the green peppers (and next time I would probably double the cream cheese mixture.) I would make this again but would probably mix the noodles in with the spaghett/meat sauce before cooking. The addition of the french-fried onions really made this recipe!
Paula
Dee,
You might try fewer noodles or add one small 8 ounce can of tomato sauce to the meat and spaghetti sauce. This will make it saucier.
I have a thought about mixing up the sauce with the noodles before you cook it. The noodles tend to absorb a lot of moisture and become soggy. The cream cheese layer helps to prevent this– making it superior to most baked spaghetti recipes, IMHO. It all gets mixed up when you eat it anyway. Suit yourself, of course.
And yes, the French fried onions make this recipe. I couldn’t agree more! Thanks for writing.
Della Davis
This is one of the best recipes I have tried in YEARS!!! I have already made it several times and everyone loves it!! Thank you for sharing. This will be a favorite of mine for years to come!!
Angela
I make this at least once every 2 weeks and it has become one of my all time favorite meals! I was never a huge fan of “normal” baked spaghetti, but I thought I’d give this a shot! It was SO worth it! It is one of my brother-in-law’s favorite meals now also, (I have to call him every time I make it!) and my picky husband even loves it (as long as I leave out the green peppers!)! Thanks so much for the recipe! YUM!
Lori
I made this recipe as read except for the meat, I am a vegetarian. I will say very good, and very rich! yum!
Linda Raber
Just searched Pinterest for this recipe .. wow, lot’s more folks LOVE this. Look forward to giving it a try.
Melissa
I love this! and plan to make soon! =)
Katie
Ymmy we had it tonight and it was amazing. thank you! i just made my own sauce concoction bc i didnt want to run to the store. And i used a yellow pepper for the same reason. Thank you!!!!
Paula
Hi Katie,
I like yellow peppers better than green so I’m sure I would have liked your version. Thanks for writing.
Lea
I would like to make this ahead and freeze this to give to my parents. Would you please post instructions on how you would do that? Thank you.
Paula
Hi Lea,
I would like to be on your Christmas list. To freeze the casserole, follow the recipe right up to the point of baking it. DO NOT put the onion rings on top. Cover and freeze. It can be baked straight out of the freezer but the time will probably be double. Keep it covered with foil until the last 10 or 15 minutes so it won’t dry out. Add onion rings over the top in the last 5 minutes.
Another hint: You might want to add an extra 8-ounce can of tomato sauce to your original sauce because ALL pasta absorbs liquid as it sits and since yours won’t be baked immediately, this will help to keep it from getting too dry.
Alice
Recipe looks so delicious thanks! Quick question though – I want to make it and freeze it – do I need to thaw it out before I bake it? Also, do I completely prepare it before I put it in the freezer? (Sorry beginner chef here!)
I am freezing it so my roommate and I don’t starve during finals week so thank you for helping a couple of law students eat well during exams!
Brit
Have both vegetables at 1/2 cup. Also, add an extra small can of tomato sauce. The first time I made this I wasn’t too into it. When I made my changes it was fabulously perfect.
Jessica
It was great! I made a double batch. Had one for dinner and froze one for another day. Kids and husband loved it. I did use light cream cheese just so I felt a bit better.
Karen
I love, love, love this recipe!
Holly
I am making this for about the billionth time. I have gotten very comfortable with it and have done some fun variations with whatever I have in the house. This week I am going to go carb free with it and try it with spaghetti squash! A little nervous about it, but I will let you know how it goes!
Paula
Holly,
Can’t wait to hear bout your experiment. I have some spaghetti squash in my fridge right now and I’m not sure what to do with it. Maybe your idea is the answer.
Betty
this is not a recipe I would recommend…..very cheesy and blah taste. Won’t be making this again.
Della
Yummolicious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jennifer
Tried this receipe tonight. I can not believe how amazing this tastes! I will be making this over and over again!!!
Maria
Have you ever made this in the crockpot? I have a potluck at work and figured it would stay warm if I put it in the crockpot instead of baking it. Of course I would heat up the French fried onions in the oven and put the on once ready to eat.
Paula
Maria,
Yes, I have. Same situation as you. It doesn’t look as nice but still tastes fabulous. Try it.
Cindy
This is by far the best spaghetti recipe, EVER. The only thing I added was brown sugar to the sauce, my husband and I love our’s with a little hint of sweet. I will never eat ‘plain’ ole spaghetti again!! Try this, you won’t be sorry!
Paula
Hi Cindy,
Think I would like that little bit of sweetness myself. Will try it next time.Thanks for taking the time to write.
Lisa
Hi. I was hoping to make this for a ladies’ bunco night. I would love to make it the night before and refrigerate. If I do that, how long do you think I need to bake it? I am sure it will be longer since it will be cold to start. Thank you for your help.
Paula
Lisa,
I would think at least 45 minutes–covered for most of that time so it doesn’t dry out. This is a great make-ahead recipe.
natalie
oh my heavens!!!! this is delicious!!!! i like regular spaghetti o.k. but i never make it anymore. the cream cheese part caught my eye on this.. i was a little nervous when putting it together because it seemed like alot of sauce (and i’m not big on red sauce) but after i baked it, it was perfect!! i can’t stop raving about it. i didn’t get it made til about midnight and had already eaten dinner…BUT i had to try it 🙂 let’s just say if it hadn’t already been so late, i would have devoured it!!! very very very very yummy! (and easy too, which was helpful since i’m no chef)
Paula
Thanks Natalie,
Glad you enjoyed it!
Christine
Yummy! Made this tonight! I used sweet italian sausage instead of hamburger and red pepper instead of green pepper. Scrumdilliupcious!!
Paula
Hi Christine,
I almost always do the same with the peppers but haven’t tried the sweet Italian sausage but I bet it was wonderful!
Hannah
Made this and it was DELICIOUS! Thank you so much for the recipe and allowing me to discover it on Pinterest! I enjoyed it very much but my boyfriend is not the biggest fan of cream cheese, so next time we will be cutting the recipe in half or cutting the casserole up and freezing some portions for later.
Paula
Hi Hannah,
Maybe you should get a new boyfriend. Just kidding! You will get to enjoy leftovers unlike me. I have to hide the leftovers.
Tammy
I made this for dinner tonight. We loved it! The only thing I will do differently next time is add a layer of sauce on top of the spaghetti then the cream cheese then more sauce. Other than that it was perfect!! Ty for posting!!
Paula
Hi Tammy,
That’s an idea. I would think it would be hard to spread the cream cheese on top of the sauce but maybe you can just drop it in spoonfuls. Glad you liked the recipe and thanks for writing to say so.
Tammy
Maybe I will toss the spaghetti in a small amout of sauce then before adding the cream cheese layer.
Trish
This sounds great. I just realized I don’t have spaghetti or chopmeat, but I do have rigatoni. Hopefully this will work. Trial and error, forks crossed!
Katina
I’m making this right now, do I cook it in a round casserole dish or rectangle baking dish? Cook covered or uncovered? Help!! I don’t cook very often!!
Thank you!!
Paula
Katina,
The shape of the baking dish doesn’t matter. You can bake covered or uncovered. Just takes longer when covered. But be sure to uncover after you put fried onions on top.
megan
any pointers on what to do or add if you do not like onions or peppers? Would it taste okay without?
Paula
Megan,
It will still taste good. Try it.
Heather
Love the idea of using cream cheese. I make a version of this but I use low fat cottage cheese and also add a layer of cheddar jack to make it extra cheesy. I am going to try it your way, cream cheese is my all time favorite food!
Mary
I made this for dinner last night and it was huge hit. It’s a great easy spin on a classic dish. I personally also skipped the peppers, but added the onion and some cayenne pepper to the meat when I cooked it. I also added diced tomatoes to my sauce to “beef” it up a little bit. I believe Thanks to you we have a new favorite in the house!
Angel
This looks delish!! Just one quick clarification….you don’t have to cook the spaghetti noodles ahead of time?
Tammy
yes you cook the spaghetti ahead of time.
Liene
I found this recipe on Pinterest and it has now become a staple in my menu rotation. My family absolutely loves it and I use red peppers instead of green and always add more veggies than the recipe calls for. I am going to do it as a freezer meal now that school and after school activities have started so I can just let it thaw during the day or overnight and pop it in the oven when we get home. Thanks for sharing this fantastic recipe.
Kelly Frisco
Made this tonight! Added fresh portabella mushrooms and garlic! It was amazon thanks for sharing!!
Paula
Kelly,
Portabella mushrooms? Bring it on!
Bonnie
Delish! I added sautéed mushrooms to the cream cheese mix. Loved this!
Samantha
has anyone tried it with cornflakes instead of the fried onions? I think I’m going to make this next week (just had spagetti today) and was curious.
Paula
Hi Samantha,
I have not, but let us know if you like it. Even though I am not a fried onion ring fan, I think they make this dish! Can’t imagine it without them.
Raychel
I found this on Pinterest one day and decided to make it! Im so glad I did. Its my husbands FAVORITE dish. He gets wide eyed and excited every time he sees that Im making it. I LOVE it too, and I dont even care for spaghetti. Ive had a few friends and family eat it and EVERYONE loves it!! Thanks for sharing!
Paula
Raychel,
That is one of the best things about this recipe. It is definitely a crowd-pleaser.
Alice
Made this tonight and hubby says this is the way we are having our spaghetti from now on!! It was easy to make and am passing this on to all my family and friends, thank you!!
Megan
Oh man. I found this on Pinterest and decided I *had* to make it this weekend so I could have dinner for the week.
Holy cow! I made a couple adaptions to cater to what I had at home: I used Philly Savor Garlic cooking cream instead of regular cream cheese so I skipped the butter and milk. I also skipped on the peppers.
It is DELICIOUS! Can’t wait for leftovers. 😀 Thanks to Scooter and to Paula for sharing!
Paula
Megan,
Sure like the idea of using cooking cream. Save time and perhaps a few calories. Thanks so much for writing.
Sadie
I found this recipe on Pinterest we love it! I don’t care much for the onions on top so I chop Garlic Croutons and use for topping so good!!
Paula
Sadie,
Your substitution sounds very tasty. Thanks for sharing.
Hannah Thiessen
We made this for dinner tonight! I only gave 4/5 stars because we would have liked the spaghetti to have a little more sauce on it, and the sauce a little less meat, but that might just be personal preference. Next time we are making it with a more flavorful sauce, too, and probably going to try and sneak in a few more veggies (didn’t tell the boyfriend about that addition!) Thank you for a great go-to!
Beginner cook- AS
Hi, so i saw the recipe and im not too crazy about french fried onions, do you think I could maybe substitute Hickory sticks instead? Or would that be gross? I just like the idea of a crunchy topping…
Rebecca
Just made this for dinner. OMG. Thank you for thinking of this receipe, genius.
jasmin
I just made this today and all I can say is this is the best baked spaghetti I have ever had! Thanks for the recipe!
Andrea
Made this for my sis-in-laws 50th b-day dinner and it was a hit! Even my nephew, who hates spaghetti, liked it… Even going back for a second helping. Served it with a tossed salad & ended with brownie Sunday’s with vanilla bean icecream, fresh strawberries & bananas, whip cream & a drizzle of hot fudge… 🙂
Holly
Just wanted to say I loved this! We have made it about eight times already and everyone gobbles it up. I use a pound of ground up mushrooms instead of the beef, as we are vegetarian, and it is fantastic that way. My four year old loves to help make the “layers”! Thank you for sharing this one!
Jessica
How many do you think this serves? We often cook for a large crowd from church so we have to make extra of everything!
Paula
Jessica, this serves about 8-9 people. We fight over leftovers so I always make lots. Pr
Amy
Sorry I forgot to rate this! lol
Amy
I found this recipe on Pinterest and I have to say………..YUM! YUM! YUM! I rarely make spaghetti becuase my husband really doenst care for it, but he just absolutely loves this recipes. And the best thing about it is that it tastes better the next day. And I NEVER eat leftover spaghetti! Have passed this recipe on to other family and friends; just couldn’t keep it to myself! Thanks for sharing! Totally a KEEPER!
Paula
Amy, we fight over the leftovers of this stuff! I agree that it is even better the next day.
Sarah
We LOVE this recipe! I am actually planning to make this tonight to freeze for later. Do you suggest baking then freezing, or just mixing it all together, freezing and baking just prior to serving? I’m new to this whole “freezer cooking” thing!
Melissa B
I love spaghetti, this recipe sounds great! and easy! =)
Im a new email subscriber!
Paula
Welcome Melissa! I think you will enjoy the spaghetti. pr
Katherine
I’ve whipped this one up after stumbling across the recipe on pinterest. It’s in the fridge ready to go for tomorrow nights dinner, although couldn’t find the crunchy fried onions here in western Australia.
Paula
Hi Katherine,
Sorry you don’t have the onion rings. That’s the best part. But I bet you will enjoy it anyway. pr
Joan [email protected] and more
Just wanted to let you know I made Scooter’s Spaghetti for the Crazy Cooking Challenge, it was fantastic! So glad I found this recipe for the challenge!
http://chocolatechocolatemorechocolate.blogspot.com/2012/03/spaghetti-challenge-scooters-spaghetti.html
Brandon and Alisha
This was great! Had to make it in 11.5 x 8 pan, no way all that is supposed to fit into a 10 x 6 pan.
PS- added mushrooms and they went nicely with the recipe!
Michele
Forgot to mention I left out the vegtables(didn’t have on hand) and mixed cream cheese with sauce, tasted great.
Thanks ,
Michele
Michele
Made this tonight, left off the french fried onions, and topped it with pepperoni’s the family loved it.!!! Thanks for the recipe.
Thanks,
michele
Bobbi
May I use your picture on Pinterest?
Thank you!
Mandy
I LOVE this recipe! My husband told me to make sure I had it in a safe place. He raved about it. My kids enjoyed it too. I did change a couple things. I omitted the onion and peppers and used Philadelphia Pesto Cooking Creme instead of the regular cream cheese and milk. It was delicious!!
Paula
Pesto Cooking Creme? That’s a new twist I haven’t heard of and I can’t wait to try it. Glad it was a hit. pr
Melissa
I froze this. Do I need to thaw it b4 I cook it?
Sandy
I made this for my husband and son. We all loved it! I rarely find a recipe that everyone likes well enough to say “Keep this one” and both made a point of telling me to fix this often. I used a little extra green bell pepper and a bit extra onion. Everything else was by the recipe and it was really good as well as easy ro prepare. It will be a staple for potlucks and to give to new moms, friends that have just had surgury and especially for our family meals! Thanks for sharing!
Barbara
Dirt cake is a combination of crushed Oreos layered with a cream cheese/vanilla pudding/confectioners sugar/whipped topping mix. Unbelievably delicious and with a calorie count to match! I usually make it for large gatherings as it makes a ton. : ) One of my favorite pictures of my daughter is of her with my best friend who is one of my incredible cook friends. They are rolling out pie dough together, my daughter is using a plastic play dough roller…adorable! Enjoy cooking with your little ones, it just makes it that much better.
Barbara
Paula, I saw your comment about recipe sharing and had to share this… I have a spiral bound “recipe book” that a friend bought for me in the dollar rack at Michaels a few years ago. She’s an excellent cook and I was a beginner, so she wrote a few of her recipes in it. I now, 5 years later, have 20 recipes in my cookbook, and ALL are from friends and family. They have names like “Teri’s Chicken and Noodles”, “Grandma Rose’s Snack crackers” and “Auntie Sue’s Dirt Cake”. I am eternally grateful to these gracious ladies who have shared their secrets and their love of cooking with me. It’s a treasure that I will add to forever and plan on passing on to my daughter…who at 2 1/2 loves to cook!
Paula
Hi Barbara,
Auntie Sue’s Dirt Cake sounds interesting. Assuming it’s chocolate something??
What a blessing to have a daughter who already loves to cook! I just found out my daughter-in-law is pregnant last night and I’m praying for a girl since I only had sons. Either way, I can’t wait to cook with them. pr
Michele
I just started a new blog about recipes and this was my first one!
Elsie
What brand of spaghetti sauce do you use?
Megan
Made this tonight for the first time, I didn’t have any french fried onions or any peppers so I omitted both, but it was still fabulous! My husband said he couldn’t really tell a difference between it and regular spaghetti, but I could. I will definitely be making again! Thanks!
Paula
Megan,
Glad you liked it. I make it most often without the peppers myself but couldn’t do without the fried onions. They would definitely make your husband sit up and take notice. 🙂 pr
[email protected]
I’m so glad I found this on Pinterest. I’ve been looking for a spaghetti recipe for a cooking challenge but wanted something different. Based on all the comments, I’ve found my recipe, can’t wait to make this!
Paula
Hi Joan,
It’s definitely my favorite spaghetti. Hope you like it. pr
Lori Lindsey
This is, by far, the best baked spaghetti I’ve ever made. I cannot wait to make it for a group other than our family. I wasn’t too sure about the cream cheese but that, along with the onions, really make this fabulous!
Cindy
I found this on Pinterest and made it for dinner last night. It was amazing! We will definitely be having this again. I mixed half zesty/spicy spaghetti sauce and half regular and it was perfect.
wintersundays
🙂 You know what? They were actually shredded carrots. Not sure why I said chopped. That might be too chunky. I bought them pre-packaged and had only a 1/4 cop or so left. So I threw them in! I was really looking forward to left overs today. Le sigh. The fam had other ideas! Someone (who shall remain nameless) polished it off. Actually there must have been at least 2 midnight snackers. LOL. Thanks again Paula!!
wintersundays
After seeing this recipe on Pinterest; I made this for the fam tonight. Big hit! I used Italian sausage instead of ground beef and added minced garlic and chopped carrots to the green peppers/onions (3 minutes in the microwave – I like crispy veggies). To me the real secret ingredient is the cream cheese. One note I totally missed the part about adding the sausage (or ground beef) to the tomato sauce so I was half way through layering when I realized that I hadn’t added the sausage! Ugh. Fam didn’t seem to care or notice that the sausage was on top. 🙂 Definitely making this again!! Thanks so much
Paula
Your comment made me laugh. I’ve gotten the layers mixed up too but it all tastes about the same in the end. Have never tried carrots but why not? pr
Chalyna
Made it for my family and friends yesterday.Was a huge succes.So delicious and easy to serve.
Will be a favorite at our house from now on.
Thanks
Melissa
I pinned this a little while ago, and it has been re-pinned like crazy!!!! 163 times in just a few days!! It’s totally cracking me up. Guess I’ll have to actually MAKE the recipe and give it a try!!!!
Julie
Ding ding ding! We have a winner! I made this tonight, then waited for hubby to go get his customary Indian pickle to spice it up (he is Indian, and Italian food is never flavorful enough for him). He RAVED about this dish! No spicing up needed. (I will say….I used spicy Arrabbiatta pasta sauce, and hot sausage in place of the ground beef…but still..). The whole family loved it, and it was easy to prepare. This is a new favorite.
Paula
Love, love your modifications!
Ashlee
Found this on Pinterest, I am always looking for easy make ahead recipes that all my husband has to do is throw in the oven. Getting ready to hit the kitchen right now! Thanks!!
UTmama
This sounds really yummy! I didn’t see the temperature to bake it anywhere. Can you please tell us what time & temp to cook? Thx
Paula
Check out #12 on the directions. 25 min at 350. Add onion rings on top and bake 5 mor minutes.
lindsey
Thank you SO much for sharing Scooter’s spaghetti. I found it off of pinterest and it has become a staple in my house for the last month. I make it for all of my friends who have had new borns and for my boyfriend’s mom who recently had surgery. EVERYONE loves it! Its so easy and so tasty! thanks again for sharing!
Barb C.
Yummy! My daughter and her 4 children are visiting for the Holidays, so we made a double batch… I really didn’t need to, but it will make for some awesome leftovers! Thank you for shaing the recipe and thank you to Scooter!!
Paula
Hi Barb, I get so excited when I have leftovers of this stuff. I’ll admit to hiding it so I can enjoy for lunch at work. So glad to hear you liked it too.
kristen
thanks! made this tonight (via pinterest) & it was SO YUMMY!
candice
made this last night for my family! This was SOOOOOO GOOD! I added mushrooms to the veg mix and cooked with butter and garlic on the stove then mixed with the cream cheese. we WILL be making this again!
zena
I found this on pinterest and i’ve made this three times already..this is my family’s new favorite spaghetti recipe! The only change I make is to mix the pasta, veggies, and meat mixture together and pour into a casserole dish. Just easier for me. Thanks to Scooter for creating it!
Jody
Can’t wait to try this, it looks super yummy! Thanks for pinning!!
Michele
Made this for my daughter and her family – huge hit with everyone especially the 2 year old! It is now on their Favorites List! Thank you so much for posting this – and thanks to your friend Scooter for creating it!
Terrah
making this tonight. my little one loves to help in the kitchen, and she will love helping with the layers! thanks! will update and let you know what we think!!
Paula
Making this tonight—so excited!
Missy
Made this tonight and it was delicious! I could have eaten the cream cheese mixture by itself! Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe!
Marie
Just for ease of reading the recipe I would change the “spaghetti sauce” step to “meat sauce” as it was referred to earlier in the recipe. I would also make sure your cream cheese is softened because the heat of the onions is not enough to melt the cream cheese when mixed together. I used an 8×8 dish and it fit perfectly. I didn’t add green peppers or french fried onions and it was very good. I will definitely make this again.
Dar
I made this for dinner tonight and it was a hit! Love the fried onions on top for that little crunch. All I added as an extra was basil and oregano to to the sauce and a bit to the cream cheese mixture. After letting it set for 10 minutes it held together like a lasagna when dishing up. Will make again!!!
Brandi
I made this last night and use fake beef crumbles to make it vegetarian and it was sooo good. Had it again for lunch. Yum!
Holly Ford
This was SOOOOO good! We are vegetarians, so I substituted 1 lb baby bella mushroom chopped for the ground beef. It was heavenly!
Sarah [Nurse Loves Farmer]
Definitely love this…but is there an easy way to mix the cream cheese with the veggies? It’s so awkward!
Paula
Hi Sarah, I soften the vegetables and cream cheese in the microwave for about a minute and they will mix together easily. Hope that helps. Paula
Kathy
I have made this two times. My daughter loves it. I added some garlic salt the second time as I thought it was a bit bland but that is probably due to the brand of sauce I used. A big hit regardless!!
Kim
Oh how my husband loves those fried onions! I showed him this recipe and he can’t wait to try it!
ande
This was awesome!! Thank you!!
Amanda
What size pan would you suggest for the spag if I don’t have a 10×6?
Amanda H
I made it in an 8×11 and it worked fine.
Nicole
Making this for dinner tonight! I’m so excited to try it!
Paige Mark
YUMMY!
Jessica
First recipe of yours I’ve made thanks so much for posting this!! Soooo Good!
Kate Hansen
Made this tonight for my family. Rave reviews. Will definitely make again! Thanks for the recipe.
MariJo
Ok, so I was telling my husband about seeing this recipe on your blog and he was really excited about it. He usually cooks dinner during the week because of our work schedules and he actually made this this spaghetti. It was really, really good. He said he’ll be making it again. Thanks for the recipe!
Nelena Liff
I made this for dinner tonight. It was super tasty, and not to mention, quick & easy!
Paula
Nelena, Thanks for coming back to say so. This is definitely one of my very favorite recipes.
Katie
Now that’s what I call some serious comfort food! Awesome!
Gail Tucker
Enjoyed “Scooter’s Spaghetti” last evening made by Scooter and it was delicious. I have never had a pasta other than lasagna that you could make ahead and bake in the oven just before serving. It was so good and I was told it is even better warmed up the next day. A great recipe to have in one’s file. Thanks. Gail Tucker
Xanax
OMG, it looks amazing…! Thanks
Beth Pope
Paula:
I don’t check your website often enough – I am having to stay up tonight to wait on a cheesecake that is cooling – I won’t share the recipe – because it doesn’t meet your requirements – way too much effort and time – but boy does it taste good. I thought I would share with you our favorite Salmon Recipe – it’s one that we’ve had for Christmas the last several years. Try it and give me your opinion – Would love to see you some time – the next time I’m over your way – I’m calling and scheduling some time with you and Billy.
Grilled Salmon with Sweet Corn, Tomato and Avocado Relish and Grilled Asparagus
2 large ears fresh yellow corn, peeled & silk removed
2 large Creole or other vine-ripened tomatoes, cored & cut into 3/4 inch dice (about 2 cups)
2 Haas avocados (14 oz), peeled, seeded and cut into 1/2 inch dice (2 c.)
6 T. finely chopped red onions
2 T. chopped fresh parsley leaves
2 T. extra-virgin olive oil
1 T. fresh lemon juice
2 t. salt (might want to cut down)
1/2 t. freshly ground white pepper
4 (6 oz) salmon filets with skin
1 T. olive oil
1/2 t. Essence (I just buy a jar)
Grilled Asparagus with Garlic (I just cook it in a pan with garlic and olive oil)
Boil corn until tender (approx. 4 min.). Drain. Cut kernels from ear and put in a bowl. Add the tomatoes, avocados, onions, parsley, olive oil, lemon juice, 1 t. salt and 1/4 t. pepper. Toss to combine and set aside
Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
Lightly brush the fillets with the olive oil and season each on the flesh side with 1/2 t. Essence, and 1/4 t. of the remaining salt, and pinch of the remaining white pepper. Add to the grill, skin side down and cook until the skin is crisp (4-5 minutes). Turn and cook until the salmon is opaque and medium-rare (about 4 minutes) depending upon the thickness of the fillets.
To serve, lay the asparagus fillets down the center and place the fillets of salmon on top. Spoon the cool or cold relish over the fish and serve immediately.
We like the warm asparagus and salmon with the cool relish.
You are doing an awesome job on your web page – later, beth
Suzanne
Yum! I think I need to make this next week sometime!!
Scooter
this was quite fun to log on and see that I made the blog. I am thoroughly enjoying the tips. I check the blog just about every day and then scour the grocery stores to check them out for myself.
So far…….love the gnu bars, smoked sundried tomatoes and fage greek yogurt!
Romaine
I was hoping you would see it! Ok if I put up the almond chicken one of these days? Love that stuff too.
Julie Lancelot
Scooter! I cannot tell you how much we love this recipe, and how many times I’ve made it. Thank you SO much! Just today I took a pan of it over to the home of a friend who has cancer. Her daughter texted me, raving about it, and asking me to please, please make it again, even if only for a church potluck or something. I have made it for our church home group meetings, family gatherings…..I always make two pans of it (one with ground beef and regular sauce, another with hot sausage and spicy arrabbiata sauce), and then we have leftovers for another night later in the week when we are all running different directions. It is my go-to recipe, all thanks to you!