Welcome to your new favorite weeknight dinner! This Gluten-Free Spaghetti Bake Casserole is everything you crave in a comfort food dish: cheesy, savory, and incredibly easy to assemble. It delivers all the satisfaction of a classic baked spaghetti without the gluten, making it a perfect meal for the entire family. It’s a true one-dish wonder.
Table of Contents
A Little Story About This Dish
I’ve always believed that a gluten-free diet shouldn’t mean giving up on family favorites. Baked spaghetti was a staple in my home growing up, and I was determined to create a version that was just as good. This Gluten-Free Spaghetti Bake Casserole is the result of that mission. It combines a rich, creamy meat sauce with perfectly cooked gluten-free pasta, all topped with a glorious layer of melted mozzarella. It’s pure comfort in a dish.
Get Ready to Cook!
What to Expect
This Gluten-Free Spaghetti Bake Casserole is a dream for busy weeknights. It comes together quickly with about 20 minutes of active prep and a 20-minute bake time. The process is simple: boil the pasta, make a quick and creamy meat sauce, combine, and bake. It’s a straightforward path to a delicious dinner.
Before You Begin
The most critical step for the perfect gluten free spaghetti casserole is to undercook your pasta. You’ll boil it for two minutes less than the package directs. This is essential because the spaghetti will continue to cook in the oven as it absorbs the sauce. This step prevents it from becoming mushy and ensures the final texture is absolutely perfect. Also, for the best, meltiest cheese topping, grate your own block of mozzarella!
The Heart of the Dish: Ingredients You’ll Need
This easy Gluten-Free Spaghetti Bake Casserole uses simple ingredients to create a rich and satisfying meal that tastes like it took hours to make.
| Ingredient | Amount |
| Gluten-Free Spaghetti | 12-ounce package |
| Olive Oil | ½ tablespoon |
| Mild Sweet Italian Sausage | 1 pound, bulk |
| Small Onion | 1, chopped |
| Garlic Cloves | 2, minced |
| Marinara Sauce | 23.5-ounce jar |
| Cream Cheese | 4 ounces, softened and cubed |
| Mozzarella Cheese | 8-ounce block, freshly grated |
Let’s Get Cooking! Step-by-Step Guide
1. Prepare for Baking and Cook the Pasta
First, preheat your oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish and set it nearby. Next, bring a large pot of unsalted water to a rolling boil for your pasta. Add the gluten-free spaghetti and cook it for exactly 2 minutes less than the package directs for al dente. For Rummo brand spaghetti, this is typically 8 minutes. This step is crucial for the perfect texture in your final Gluten-Free Spaghetti Bake Casserole. Drain the pasta and immediately rinse it with cold water to stop the cooking process. Leave it in the colander for now.
2. Brown the Sausage and Aromatics
While the pasta water is heating up, start your sauce. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the bulk Italian sausage, chopped onion, and minced garlic. Break up the sausage with a spoon and cook everything together for about 6 minutes, or until the sausage is browned and no longer pink.
3. Create the Creamy Marinara Sauce
Reduce the skillet’s heat to medium-low. Pour in the entire jar of marinara sauce and add the cubed cream cheese. Stir the sauce gently but continuously for about 5 minutes, allowing the cream cheese to melt completely and create a smooth, velvety texture. Once it’s fully combined, remove the skillet from the heat and stir in about ½ cup of your freshly grated mozzarella cheese.
4. Combine and Bake to Perfection
Grab the now-empty pot you used for the pasta. Pour the creamy sausage sauce into the pot, then add the drained spaghetti. Gently toss everything together until the pasta is evenly coated in the delicious sauce. Transfer this mixture into your prepared 9×13 baking dish and spread it into an even layer. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese all over the top. Bake for 20 minutes, until the casserole is heated through and the cheese is bubbly and beautifully melted. Let it rest for a few minutes before serving.
Mastering the Dish: Pointers for Perfection & How to Store
Don’t Salt the Pasta Water: For this recipe, boiling the pasta in unsalted water is intentional. The Italian sausage and marinara sauce provide plenty of seasoning, and this method ensures the final dish is perfectly balanced, not overly salty.
Freshly Grated Cheese is Best: For that perfect, gooey cheese pull, always grate your own mozzarella. Pre-shredded cheeses contain anti-caking agents that can prevent them from melting as smoothly as a fresh block.
Storage and Reheating: Leftovers are a treat! Store any remaining Gluten-Free Spaghetti Bake Casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can reheat individual portions in the microwave or cover the baking dish with foil and warm it in a 350°F oven until heated through.
You might also be interested in trying these other gluten-free recipes: Easy Gluten Free Enchiladas and Gluten Free Pizza Dough, Gluten Free Quiche.
Your Burning Questions Answered!
Can you use gluten-free pasta in a pasta bake?
Absolutely! Gluten-free pasta works wonderfully in a pasta bake. The most important trick is to significantly undercook the pasta during the boiling stage—usually 2-3 minutes less than the package directions. This prevents it from getting mushy as it bakes in the sauce, ensuring a perfect “al dente” texture in the final casserole.
What is a good gluten-free casserole?
A good gluten-free casserole is one that doesn’t feel like a compromise, and this Gluten-Free Spaghetti Bake Casserole is a perfect example. Other fantastic options include shepherd’s pie with a mashed potato topping, layered casseroles using corn tortillas (like an enchilada bake), or creamy bakes using potatoes or rice as the base.
What are common mistakes when cooking gluten-free pasta?
The most common mistake is overcooking it. Gluten-free pasta can go from perfectly cooked to mushy very quickly. Always cook it for the minimum time suggested on the package and test it frequently. Another common error is not stirring it enough, as it tends to stick together more than wheat-based pasta. Finally, for pasta bakes, rinsing the pasta in cold water after boiling is a key step to stop the cooking process before it goes into the oven.
Dig In & Enjoy!
This Gluten-Free Spaghetti Bake Casserole proves that weeknight dinners can be both incredibly easy and deeply satisfying. It’s a cheesy, savory dish that will earn a permanent spot in your recipe rotation. Enjoy every single bite!
To see more of my content and stay up-to-date, be sure to follow me on Pinterest.
The Best Gluten-Free Spaghetti Bake Casserole (Easy Recipe!)
- Total Time: 60
- Yield: 8 1x
Description
This Gluten-Free Spaghetti Bake Casserole is the ultimate easy weeknight dinner! It’s cheesy, savory, and incredibly simple to assemble, combining a rich, creamy sausage sauce with perfectly cooked gluten-free pasta.
Ingredients
12 ounce package gluten free spaghetti
½ tablespoon olive oil
1 pound bulk mild sweet Italian sausage
1 small onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
23.5 ounce jar marinara sauce
4 ounce cream cheese, softened and cubed
8 ounce block mozzarella, freshly grated
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 400℉. Grease a 9X13 inch baking dish and set aside.
2. Start with boiling unsalted water for the pasta. Cook for 2 minutes less then al dente (e.g., 8 minutes with Rummo spaghetti). Drain and rinse in cold water to stop the cooking; set aside in the colander.
3. Meanwhile, while the pasta is cooking, heat a skillet over medium high heat. Add the olive oil and brown the sausage with onions and garlic until the sausage is no longer pink, about 6 minutes.
4. Reduce the heat to medium low and add the marinara and cream cheese. Stir and heat until the cream cheese is smooth, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in ½ cup mozzarella cheese.
5. In the empty pot the pasta was cooked in, combine the sauce with the cooked pasta. Transfer to the prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
6. Top with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake for 20 minutes, or until heated through and cheese is melted.
Notes
Pasta Water: Do not salt the pasta water. The sausage and marinara provide plenty of seasoning for a perfectly balanced dish.
Cheese: For the best results and a perfect gooey melt, grate your own mozzarella from a block. Pre-shredded cheese has anti-caking agents that can affect the texture.
Pasta Choice: We recommend Rummo gluten-free spaghetti for its excellent texture in this bake.
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 40
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 652
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 1416 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 19 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 51 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 98 mg