Description
Spaghetti Boats are a fun and delicious twist on traditional spaghetti, combining seasoned ground beef pasta filled into a toasted garlic bread loaf boat, topped with melty mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. This recipe offers a hearty and comforting meal perfect for family dinners with an easy-to-follow cooking process.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat & Sauce
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 jar (24 oz) spaghetti sauce
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Pasta
- 8 ounces spaghetti noodles
Bread & Toppings
- 1 loaf French bread
- ½ cup salted butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat and Brown Beef: Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a sheet pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil. In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef along with the diced onion and minced garlic. Crumble the beef as it cooks. Once the beef is no longer pink, drain excess fat from the pan.
- Make Sauce: Stir in the spaghetti sauce, kosher salt, Italian seasoning, and black pepper into the beef mixture. Reduce heat to low and let the sauce simmer gently while you prepare the pasta and bread.
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta in a colander without rinsing, then add it to the skillet with the beef and sauce mixture. Stir well to combine all ingredients.
- Prepare Bread Boat: Take the French bread loaf and cut a large oval shape around the top, leaving a ½-inch border intact. Remove the center portion of the bread to create a boat shape suitable for holding the spaghetti.
- Toast Bread: Mix softened butter, garlic powder, and dried parsley flakes until well combined. Spread this garlic butter mixture inside the hollowed bread boat. Place the bread on the prepared sheet pan and bake for 5–8 minutes until toasted and fragrant.
- Assemble and Bake: Fill the toasted garlic bread boat with the spaghetti and beef mixture, spreading it evenly. Top with shredded mozzarella cheese. Bake in the preheated oven for 10–15 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve: Remove from oven, sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the top. Slice the spaghetti boat into large portions and serve warm for a delightful meal.
Notes
- The bread boat can be made with other sturdy bread types, such as sourdough or Italian bread, if French bread is unavailable.
- For a vegetarian version, substitute ground beef with plant-based meat or sautéed mushrooms and extra vegetables.
- Leftover spaghetti boats can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven for best texture.
- Adding extra Italian seasoning or red pepper flakes can enhance flavor and spice if desired.
- Ensure pasta is not rinsed after boiling to allow sauce to cling properly to noodles.
