Description
Spaghetti Boats combine hearty ground beef and spaghetti sauce with tender pasta, all nestled inside a toasted garlic bread ‘boat’ topped with melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. This delicious and comforting meal is perfect for family dinners, offering a fun and flavorful twist on traditional spaghetti.
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 Boat
- 1 loaf French bread
- ½ cup salted butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
Cheese Toppings
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat and Brown Beef: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil. In a skillet over medium-high heat, add ground beef, finely diced onion, and minced garlic. Cook and crumble the beef until no longer pink. Drain excess fat and grease from the pan for a leaner sauce.
- Make Sauce: Stir in the jar of spaghetti sauce, kosher salt, Italian seasoning, and black pepper into the cooked beef mixture. Reduce heat to low and let it simmer gently while you cook the spaghetti and prepare the bread.
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti noodles according to package directions until al dente. Drain the noodles well but do not rinse them, to retain the sauce’s flavor adherence. Add the cooked spaghetti noodles into the skillet with the meat sauce and stir to combine thoroughly.
- Prepare Bread Boat: While pasta cooks, prepare the bread. Cut a large oval shape on top of the French bread, making sure to leave at least a ½-inch border around the edges. Remove the center part of the bread to create a hollow ‘boat’ for the filling.
- Toast Bread: In a small bowl, mix softened butter with garlic powder and dried parsley flakes. Spread this garlic butter mixture inside the hollowed bread ‘boat’. Place the bread on the prepared sheet pan and toast in the preheated oven for about 5 to 8 minutes until slightly golden and fragrant.
- Assemble and Bake: Fill the toasted garlic bread boat with the beef and spaghetti mixture from the skillet. Evenly sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese over the top. Return the filled bread to the oven and bake for 10 to 15 minutes until the cheese melts beautifully and the bread is heated through.
- Serve: Remove from oven and sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top. Cut the spaghetti boat into large slices and serve warm, enjoying the hearty flavors and crispy garlic bread together.
Notes
- Do not rinse cooked pasta to help the sauce stick better to the noodles.
- Make sure to drain excess fat from cooked ground beef for a less greasy dish.
- Use fresh garlic and parsley powder for best flavor in the garlic butter.
- You can use any type of crusty bread if French bread is not available.
- Ensure the bread boat has a sturdy enough crust to hold the filling without breaking apart.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated in the oven for best texture retention.
