Baked Garlic Butter Parmesan Spaghetti: A Cozy Step-by-Step Pasta Bake

Baked Garlic Butter Parmesan Spaghetti is a rich, comforting pasta dish made with tender spaghetti, melted butter, fragrant garlic, parmesan cheese, cream, herbs, and a golden baked topping. It is simple enough for a weeknight dinner but flavorful enough to serve as a special side dish or main meal.

This recipe is perfect when you want pasta that is creamy, buttery, cheesy, and slightly crispy on top. Unlike regular stovetop spaghetti, this version is finished in the oven, which helps the sauce soak into the pasta while the parmesan forms a delicious golden layer.

Why This Recipe Works

The flavor comes from a simple garlic butter base. Butter gives richness, garlic adds warmth, parmesan brings salty nuttiness, and baking creates a lightly crisp top while keeping the inside soft and creamy.

The dish is also very flexible. You can serve it plain as a cheesy pasta bake, or add chicken, shrimp, mushrooms, spinach, bacon, or roasted vegetables to make it more filling.

Ingredients

For the Spaghetti

• 12 oz spaghetti
• Water for boiling
• 1 tablespoon salt for pasta water

For the Garlic Butter Sauce

• 5 tablespoons butter
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ½ cup milk
• 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
• ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese, optional
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
• Salt to taste
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley

For the Topping

• ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
• ½ cup mozzarella cheese
• 2 tablespoons melted butter
• 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs, optional for crunch
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley

Step 1: Cook the Spaghetti

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add salt, then add the spaghetti.

Cook the spaghetti for 1 to 2 minutes less than the package instructions. This is important because the pasta will continue cooking in the oven.

The spaghetti should be slightly firm, not too soft. If it is fully cooked before baking, it may become mushy later.

Before draining, save about ½ cup of pasta water. This starchy water can help loosen the sauce if needed.

Drain the spaghetti and set it aside.

Step 2: Prepare the Baking Dish

Preheat the oven to 375°F / 190°C.

Lightly grease a baking dish with butter or cooking spray. A medium casserole dish works well.

Greasing the dish prevents the pasta from sticking and helps the edges become slightly golden while baking.

Step 3: Make the Garlic Butter Base

Place a large skillet or saucepan over medium-low heat.

Add the butter and let it melt slowly. Once melted, add the minced garlic.

Cook the garlic for about 30 seconds to 1 minute, stirring constantly. The garlic should smell fragrant but should not turn dark brown.

Garlic burns quickly, and burnt garlic can make the sauce taste bitter, so keep the heat gentle.

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