No Boil Spaghetti Bake

I saw an Oven Baked Spaghetti recipe on tiktok and I wanted to put my own spin on it by adding some meatballs and making it a full meal. This No Boil Spaghetti Bake recipe is an easy one pot meal with three ingredients that everyone loves – spaghetti, meatballs, and cheese! I love the idea of cooking spaghetti in the oven without boiling it, but I was skeptical at first. Well, not anymore! I have made it several times, and I can ensure you it actually works!

Can you cook spaghetti without boiling it?

Yes, in this dish, I cooked my pasta with sauce, water, and spices in a pot with a heavy lid at 375F. I cooked it first for 25 minutes, then I gave it a stir, and added it back to the oven to finish cooking.

Add meatballs to No Boil Spaghetti Bake!

I use frozen meatballs in this recipe, and not just any frozen meatballs, I use party size meatballs. They are smaller in size and are a true one bite meatball. Also, the size of them cooks more effectively in this dish. It is important to thaw the meatballs before cooking them in this dish.

You can also use homemade meatballs in this dish. If you use homemade meatballs, I would make the meatballs small and then I would pan fry the meatball on all sides. Then, place them in the pan to finish cooking per the recipe below.

INGREDIENTS  

• 16 oz Spaghetti
• 24 oz Pasta Sauce I used my favorite Jarred Sauce
• 3 cups Water
• 2 tbsp Olive Oil
• 2 tbsp Garlic Paste
• 1/2 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese Or Pecorino
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1 tsp Oregano
• 6 leaves Fresh Basil
• Black Pepper
• 25 Party Size Meatballs I used Trader Joe’s
• 1-2 cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese You want to cover the top of the dish. Make it as cheesy as you want.

How do you cook No Boil Spaghetti Bake?

To make this no boil spaghetti bake, I first put the pasta in some water, sauce, and spices in the pot. Then, I bake it in the oven for 25 minutes, give it a good mix, add my thawed meatballs. Next, I put it back in the oven for another 15 minutes until the meatballs are warm in the inside. Finally, add a layer of cheese on top and cook it uncovered for 10 minutes. Once the cheese has melted, this dish is ready to enjoy.

EQUIPMENT

• 3.5oz Braiser or Wide Oven Safe pot with a Heavy Lid

INSTRUCTIONS 

• Preheat Oven to 375 Degrees F
• In a wide 3.5 -4 quart oven safe pot, add the olive oil and minced garlic.
• Slowly break the spaghetti in half in small bundles and lay them in the pot like I did in my photo above.
• Add the oregano, salt, a good sprinkle of black pepper, pasta sauce, fresh basil, and water and then use a spoon or spatula to gently let the water and sauce go in between the dry pasta. Cover the pot with a heavy lid and bake in the oven for 25 minutes
• Carefully remove from the oven and use a spoon or spatula to mix up the pasta. The pasta should still be hard, but this is ok because it will cook again. Add the parmesan cheese, give it a good mix, and then add the meatballs on top.
• Cover the pan and cook for another 15 minutes.
• Remove from the oven, cover with shredded mozzarella cheese and pop it back in the oven for another 10 minutes without the lid. Top with some more fresh basil and serve immediately. The pot will be hot so please be careful.

NOTES

I find that a wide pot works best for this because it gives the spaghetti more room to spread out once you mix it at the 25 minute mark. The spaghetti will not be cooked after 25 minutes. But, once you add the meatballs and cook, and then add the cheese and cook, everything will be perfect. It is important to mix the spaghetti well after the 25 minute mark to ensure that your pasta does not stick together when it goes back in the oven. 

If you like this dish, you may also like:

One Pot Chicken and Rice

One Pot Baked Pasta