Bacon Cream Cheese Baked Spaghetti

 

Indulge in the ultimate comfort food! This rich and creamy baked spaghetti is loaded with bacon and melted mozzarella for a crowd-pleasing meal.

Yields: 6-8 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 lb dry spaghetti, broken in half

• 8 oz cream cheese, softened

• 1 (10.5 oz) can condensed cream of bacon soup

• 4 cups milk (whole or 2% recommended)

• 1/2 tbsp garlic powder

• 1/2 tbsp onion powder

• 3 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, grated, divided

• 1 cup bacon, cooked until crispy and crumbled, divided

• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

• Fresh chives, snipped (for garnish, optional)
  

  Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prep: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and set aside.

  2. Create the Sauce: In a large pot or Dutch oven, combine the milk, cream of bacon soup, softened cream cheese, garlic powder, and onion powder. Warm over medium-high heat, stirring frequently until the cream cheese is fully melted and the mixture is smooth and begins to boil.

  3. Cook the Pasta: Once the sauce is bubbling, add the broken spaghetti noodles. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring often to prevent sticking, until the pasta is al dente and the sauce has thickened.

  4. Combine Cheeses and Bacon: Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in 2 cups of the grated mozzarella and half of the crumbled bacon. Taste and season generously with salt and pepper.

  5. Assemble: Pour the spaghetti mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining 1 1/2 cups of mozzarella and the rest of the bacon crumbles evenly over the top.

  6. Bake: Bake uncovered for 15-18 minutes, or until the cheese is completely melted, bubbly, and just beginning to turn golden.

  7. Rest and Serve: Remove from the oven and let the pasta stand for 5 minutes before serving. This allows the sauce to set slightly. Garnish with fresh chives if desired.

  Why This Method Works Better:

  • Clearer Steps: Instructions are broken down into distinct, logical actions (e.g., “Create the Sauce,” “Combine Cheeses and Bacon”).

  • Proactive Tips: Includes helpful notes like greasing the pan first and stirring often to prevent sticking, which prevents common mistakes.

  • Precise Language: Uses terms like “al dente,” “softened,” and “grated” for better accuracy.

  • Improved Flow: The order of the ingredients list now more closely matches the order of use in the instructions.

  • Enhanced Readability: Bullet points and bolding make the recipe easy to scan.