Spaghetti Pie Recipe

Southern Living Spaghetti Pie in the cast iron skillet with a wedge cut out to serve — Photo:
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Active Time:

30 mins

Total Time:

1 hr

Servings:

This spaghetti pie recipe has all the delicious elements of lasagna—creamy ricotta, savory sausage, bright tomato sauce, and that burnished, gooey-crisp cap of mozzarella—without the fuss of layering the ingredients in a casserole dish. Cooked in a cast-iron skillet that you can bring right to the table, it's an easy and delicious weeknight dinner that you can pair with a simple Caesar salad and a baguette or garlic bread.

Spaghetti pie is also a nicely portable dish to deliver to someone who's recovering from an illness or just had a baby. If you're worried about getting your treasured cast-iron skillet back, you can bake the pie in a disposable aluminum pie pan.

Learn how to make spaghetti pie, and your family will love having a new way to enjoy an old favorite.

Ingredients for Spaghetti Pie

Mild Italian sausage, ricotta, mozzarella, tomato sauce, and a few key seasonings come together to coat each strand of spaghetti in this hearty dish. To make spaghetti pie, you'll need:

Spaghetti: The base of the dish. Can be substituted with other preferred pasta shapes, such as linguine or fettuccine.
Vegetable oil: For cooking the sausages and vegetables. Swap with olive oil or other types of oil if preferred.
Mild Italian sausages: Bulks up the dish with flavor and protein. You can also use spicy sausage, ground beef, turkey sausage, or plant-based sausage.
Green bell pepper: Adds color and flavor to the dish. Can also use red, yellow, or orange bell peppers, if desired.
Yellow onion and garlic cloves: Aromatic additions, creating a savory depth within the dish.
Canned tomato sauce or puree: Creates a sauce to bind the spaghetti together. Can also use crushed tomatoes, marinara sauce, or fresh tomatoes blended into a sauce.
Italian seasoning blend: A mix of herbs to complement the tomato flavor.
Kosher salt and black pepper: Enhances the overall flavor of the dish.
Large egg: A binder to help the pie keep its shape after baking.
Ricotta cheese: Adds a creamy richness to the pie.
Shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese: For a perfectly cheesy, browned top.

Southern Living Spaghetti Pie ingredients — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

How To Make Spaghetti Pie

A delicious weeknight meal, satisfying Sunday supper, or crowd-pleasing dish to bring to a potluck, this spaghetti pie is versatile and easy to prepare. Full instructions are below, but here's a quick outline of the process:

Step 1. Cook pasta: Preheat oven with an ovenproof skillet inside. Cook spaghetti according to package instructions.
Step 2. Cook sausage and peppers: While pasta cooks, cook sausages in a skillet until cooked through. Add bell pepper, and cook until softened. Transfer to a bowl, and set aside.
Step 3. Cook onions and garlic: Sauté the onion until translucent. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the tomato sauce and 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning and let simmer. Season with salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Remove from heat.
Step 4. Combine spaghetti pie mixture: Mix the egg, ricotta, remaining pepper, and remaining Italian seasoning. Add drained spaghetti to the sausage mixture, and stir in ricotta mixture, half the tomato sauce, and 1/2 cup mozzarella. Toss to combine.
Step 5. Add pasta to preheated pan and bake: Brush oil over the bottom and sides of the hot ovenproof skillet. Immediately pour the spaghetti mixture into the pan, and spread out evenly. Top with remaining tomato sauce, and mozzarella cheese. Bake until bubbly and slightly browned. Let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

Spaghetti Pie Variations

To change up or add to this spaghetti pie, consider these variation ideas:

Spaghetti: Substitute with any preferred pasta shapes, including penne, rigatoni, or fusilli, to name a few.
Meat: Opt for spicy Italian sausage for a kick, or use ground beef, turkey turkey sausage, or plant-based sausage in the place of mild Italian sausages, if desired.
Veggies: Feel free to add other types of bell peppers for additional color and flavor, as well as chopped spinach, mushrooms, zucchini, eggplant, broccoli florets, and more.
Tomato sauce: You can also use crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes with green chiles, a marinara sauce, or blend your own fresh tomatoes for a homemade sauce.
Fresh herbs: Add brightness with fresh basil or parsley.
Ricotta cheese: Can be substituted with cottage cheese in a pinch.

Can I Make Spaghetti Pie Ahead?

Spaghetti pie can be made in advance for an easy weeknight meal that's ready to serve in about 30 minutes. To make it ahead, assemble and refrigerate the pie up to two days in advance, or freeze for up to three months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator if frozen, and let stand at room temperature while the oven preheats to 375°F. Bake as directed, adding a few minutes to the baking time as needed until the pasta is hot throughout.

How To Store and Reheat Leftover Spaghetti Pie

To store leftover spaghetti pie, wrap tightly or transfer to an airtight container, and store in the refrigerator for up to four days, or freeze for up to three months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator if frozen, then reheat, covered with foil, in a preheated 350°F oven or microwave until hot throughout (the internal temperature should register 165°F).

What To Serve With Spaghetti Pie

Hearty and comforting, spaghetti pie pairs well with a variety of sides for a satisfying meal the whole family will love. Serve with a green salad, Caprese salad, or Caesar salad to round out the meal, or opt for steamed or roasted vegetables, along with garlic bread for a classic pairing.

Why This Recipe Gets Rave Reviews

This dish is fast to whip up, and a total crowd-pleaser. But don't just take our word for it:

Mary from Charleston commented, "Put this together today and it's very fast. Made one for my husband and me and other for my daughter. Doubled the recipe and used Rao's because I was in a big hurry (ordinarily I make my own sauce). This is a keeper!"

More One-Skillet Meals You'll Love

If simple and quick is the name of the game, these one-skillet meals are here to transform your standard weeknight menu:

Editorial contributions by Katie Rosenhouse.

Ingredients

8 oz. (1/2 package) spaghetti
3 tsp. vegetable oil, divided
2 mild Italian sausages, casings removed (about 8 oz.)
1 large green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (15-oz.) can tomato sauce or puree
1 tsp. Italian seasoning blend, divided
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper, divided
1 large egg
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided

Directions

Cook pasta:

Place a 10-inch cast-iron skillet or other ovenproof skillet in the oven and preheat the oven to 375°F. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook spaghetti according to package directions.

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Cook sausage and peppers:

While pasta cooks, heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the sausages and brown, breaking the pieces into small chunks with a spoon, until cooked through, about 6 to 8 minutes.

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Add the bell pepper and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Transfer the sausage mixture to a medium mixing bowl, set aside.

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Cook onions and garlic:

Adding more oil to the skillet if needed, sauté the onion over medium-high heat until softened and translucent, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute.

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Add tomato sauce:

Stir in the tomato sauce or puree and 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning. Bring to a simmer, and cook for 4 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Season with salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, adding additional if desired. Remove from heat.

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Combine spaghetti pie mixture:

In a small bowl, mix the egg, ricotta, the remaining 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning until smooth.

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Add the cooked, drained spaghetti to the bowl with the sausage.

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Stir in the ricotta mixture, about half the tomato sauce (about 1 cup) and 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese. Use tongs to mix the spaghetti thoroughly with the other ingredients.

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Add pasta to preheated pan:

Remove the hot cast-iron pan from the oven. Using a basting or pastry brush, brush the remaining 1 teaspoon oil over the bottom and sides of the pan. Immediately pour the spaghetti mixture into the pan, using a spoon or tongs to distribute it evenly.

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Smooth the remaining tomato sauce over the top of the spaghetti and sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese.

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Bake:

Return the pan to the oven and bake for about 30 minutes, until the cheese is bubbly and slightly browned. Remove from the oven and let sit for about 5 minutes before cutting into wedges and serving.

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Frequently Asked Questions

Is spaghetti pie kid-friendly?

Spaghetti pie is just as satisfying for adults as it is for kids of all ages.
Can you freeze spaghetti pie?

Spaghetti pie can be wrapped (ideally in individual servings for quick thawing), and frozen for up to two months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating in the oven, microwave, or on the stovetop.
Can spaghetti pie be made vegetarian?

For a vegetarian version, skip the sausage and opt for a plant-based sausage option, or sautéed vegetables like mushrooms to bulk up the dish.