Spicy Spaghetti Pie (Printable)
Zesty baked spaghetti layered with sausage, peppers, ricotta and melted cheeses, finished golden and garnished with basil.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 12 oz dried spaghetti
02 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
→ Meat & Vegetables
03 - 1 lb ground Italian sausage, hot or mild
04 - 1 small onion, diced
05 - 1 red bell pepper, chopped
06 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 2 fresh jalapeños, seeded and diced
→ Sauce
08 - 2 1/2 cups marinara sauce
09 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
10 - 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
11 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
12 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
13 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
→ Cheese
14 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella
15 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
16 - 1 cup ricotta cheese
17 - 2 large eggs, beaten
18 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil, plus extra for garnish
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9-inch pie dish or deep baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti until just al dente, then drain and set aside.
03 - While the pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground Italian sausage, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, and cook until fully browned. Drain off any excess fat.
04 - Add the diced onion, chopped bell pepper, minced garlic, and seeded jalapeños to the skillet with the sausage. Sauté for 4 to 5 minutes until the vegetables are softened and fragrant.
05 - Stir in the marinara sauce, tomato paste, crushed red pepper flakes, dried oregano, and smoked paprika. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Let the sauce simmer for 5 minutes to meld the flavors.
06 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked spaghetti, ricotta cheese, beaten eggs, and chopped fresh basil. Toss until the pasta is evenly coated throughout.
07 - Spread the spaghetti mixture into the prepared pie dish, pressing it evenly across the bottom and up the sides to form a crust layer.
08 - Spoon the sausage and vegetable sauce over the spaghetti base, spreading it in an even layer. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan evenly over the top.
09 - Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and golden brown on top. Remove from the oven and let the pie cool for 10 minutes before slicing.
10 - Garnish with additional fresh basil leaves and serve warm.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It transforms basic pantry staples into something that looks and tastes like you spent all day on it.
- The contrast between the crispy cheese top and the saucy, spicy filling is genuinely addictive.
02 -
- Do not skip the resting time or your slices will fall apart into a messy, albeit delicious, heap.
- Undercook the spaghetti by one minute compared to the package directions because it absorbs sauce while baking.
03 -
- Grease the pie dish with olive oil instead of butter for better release and a subtle flavor boost.
- Let the sauce cool slightly before assembling so the ricotta mixture does not cook prematurely.