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You will love the tasty flavors in this Monterey spaghetti! Tender spaghetti baked in a cheesy mixture and loaded with spinach and crispy fried onions. It’s a surprisingly delicious combination of flavors and an easy weeknight dinner!
Pasta dishes are always a crowd pleaser and this one does not disappoint! It’s one of those recipes that everyone keeps going back for more. Try more of my crowd-pleasing pasta dishes like this classic manicotti, my million dollar spaghetti, or our new favorite, marry me chicken pasta!
Easy Monterey Spaghetti
This unique and delicious Monterey spaghetti will be hit at the dinner table! Although it is meatless, it’s loaded with lots of creamy protein-packed cheeses. Sour cream, parmesan cheese, Monterey jack cheese, and an egg create a heavenly cheese mixture that gets tossed with spaghetti, spinach, and crispy fried onions. As it bakes, the result is incredible! The texture and flavors from the crispy fried onions take this pasta dish to the next level.
It’s great for a weeknight meal, but you can also serve it as a side dish since it’s meatless. Any way you enjoy it is delicious! Complete this meal by serving it with a beautiful wedge salad, breadsticks, and a side of fruit.
Ingredients You Will Need
Monterey spaghetti is really simple to put together and doesn’t require a lot of ingredients. It’s so easy that even your kids can help you make it! You can find the measurements below in the recipe card.
- Spaghetti: Spaghetti noodles are cooked and drained before assembling.
- Monterey Jack Cheese & Parmesan Cheese: The perfect flavor combination of cheeses to melt as it bakes!
- Sour Cream: Full-fat sour cream is best!
- Ricotta Cheese: The addition of ricotta adds to the creaminess.
- Egg: Binds the cheese mixture together.
- Salt and Pepper: Season to taste.
- Garlic Powder: Adds a garlic flavor that compliments all of the ingredients.
- Frozen Chopped Spinach: Thaw and squeeze out the excess liquid.
- Crispy Fried Onions: These tasty fried onions get mixed into the spaghetti and sprinkled on top! You can’t have enough of these in my opinion.
Monterey Spaghetti Recipe
Everyone has spaghetti noodles in their pantry! Just stop at the store and grab any remaining ingredients you don’t have on hand. Now dinner can be prepped and in the oven in 20 minutes. I love easy one-pan dinners and this one is certainly a keeper!
- Cook and Drain the Spaghetti: Break the spaghetti in half and cook it according to the package directions until it is al dente. Drain then set aside.
- Preheat Oven/ Prep the Baking Dish: Before you assemble this recipe, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and spray a 9X13 baking dish with cooking spray.
- Combine the Cheeses, Sour Cream, Ricotta Cheese, Egg, and Seasonings: In a large bowl, whisk together the Monterey jack cheese, ½ cup parmesan cheese, sour cream, ricotta cheese, egg, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Add the Spinach, Fried Onions, and Spaghetti to the Cheese Mixture: Add the spinach, 3 ounces of the crispy fried onions, and cooked spaghetti to the cheese mixture. Toss thoroughly to combine the ingredients altogether.
- Bake: Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
- Add Toppings and Finish Baking: After 30 minutes, spread the remaining fried onions and parmesan cheese on top of the spaghetti. Bake for an additional 5-8 minutes until the top is golden brown and crispy.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and let it rest for at least 5 minutes before serving.
Tips and Variations
Follow my tips and ideas for making this Monterey spaghetti just the way your family likes it! Your family will love this pasta dish and one-pan meals make weeknights a breeze.
- Add Chicken or Bacon: Add cooked chicken or crispy bacon to this recipe for added protein! They both would be tasty options in this Monterey spaghetti.
- Spaghetti: Instead of spaghetti, use thin spaghetti! It’s a great alternative for this recipe. You also don’t have to break the spaghetti in half, but I find that it makes assembling the dish much easier.
- Garnish: Amp up the flavor! Sprinkle with fresh parsley and red pepper flakes for a little heat. I love red pepper flakes on top of my serving. It’s the perfect finishing touch!
- Don’t Skip the Fried Onions: Basically, the fried onions are the best part of Monterey spaghetti. So trust me on this one, don’t leave them out!
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
Monterey spaghetti is delicious for lunch the next day because the flavors just get even better! Another reason to hide those leftovers from the rest of the family.
- In the Refrigerator: Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- To Reheat: Reheat leftovers in the microwave until warmed them. I like to sprinkle extra shredded Monterey Jack cheese on top before rewarming. This way it gets cheesy and melty again!
More Favorite Pasta Recipes
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Break the spaghetti in half and cook it according to the package directions until it is al dente. Drain and set aside.
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit and spray a 9X13 baking dish with cooking spray.
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In a large bowl, whisk together the monterey jack cheese, ½ cup parmesan cheese, sour cream, ricotta cheese, egg, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
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Add the spinach, 3 ounces of the crispy fried onions, and cooked spaghetti to the cheese mixture. Toss thoroughly and combine the ingredients.
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Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, spread the remaining fried onions and parmesan cheese on top of the spaghetti. Bake for an additional 5-8 minutes until the top is golden brown and crispy.
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Remove from the oven and let it rest for at least 5 minutes before serving.
Calories: 353kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 18gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.003gCholesterol: 79mgSodium: 692mgPotassium: 164mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 593IUVitamin C: 0.3mgCalcium: 430mgIron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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