Get ready to fall in love with your new favorite dinner: Spaghetti Garlic Bread Bowls. This recipe is the ultimate comfort food dream, combining the cheesy, saucy goodness of spaghetti with the crispy, buttery delight of garlic bread. It’s a show-stopping meal that’s surprisingly easy to make and perfect for a fun family dinner or a cozy night in. Forget plates—the bowl is the best part!
Why You’ll Love This Spaghetti Garlic Bread Bowl Recipe
If you’re looking for a meal that will get everyone excited, this is it. It’s a creative and delicious twist on a classic spaghetti dinner that feels special without being complicated.
Two Favorites in One: It combines two universally loved dishes into one epic meal.
Perfectly Crispy: We have a secret step to make sure the bread bowl stays crispy and never gets soggy.
Family-Friendly Fun: Kids and adults alike will love this hands-on, edible bowl dinner.
Customizable: Easily adapt the recipe with your favorite sauce, add meatballs, or throw in some veggies.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe uses simple, easy-to-find ingredients to create a truly memorable meal. Here’s what you’ll need to gather.
For the Spaghetti:
Spaghetti: 8 ounces of your favorite spaghetti or other long pasta.
Ground Beef: 1 lb of lean ground beef (or Italian sausage).
Marinara Sauce: 24 ounces of your favorite jarred or homemade marinara sauce.
Onion: 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped.
Garlic: 2 cloves, minced.
Italian Seasoning: 1 teaspoon.
Olive Oil: 1 tablespoon.
Salt and Black Pepper: To taste.
For the Garlic Bread Bowls:
Bread Boules: 4 small, crusty bread boules or large, hard rolls.
Unsalted Butter: 1/2 cup, melted.
Garlic Powder: 1 teaspoon.
Dried Parsley: 1 teaspoon.
Grated Parmesan Cheese: 1/4 cup.
Shredded Mozzarella Cheese: 1 cup, for topping.
How to Make Spaghetti Garlic Bread Bowls (Step-by-Step)
Follow these simple steps to create the most amazing dinner. We’ll walk you through making the bread bowls, preparing the spaghetti, and putting it all together.
Step 1: Prepare the Garlic Bread Bowls
First, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Slice the top off each bread boule, about an inch down. Carefully scoop out the soft bread from the inside, leaving about a 1/2-inch wall around the sides and bottom. Be gentle to avoid making any holes.
In a small bowl, mix together the melted butter, garlic powder, and dried parsley. Brush this garlic butter mixture generously over the inside of each bread bowl and on the cut side of the tops. Sprinkle the insides with Parmesan cheese. Place the bowls and their tops on a baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes, or until lightly toasted and golden. This toasting step is key to preventing a soggy bowl!
Look at that golden, crispy garlic bread bowl just waiting to be filled!
Step 2: Cook the Spaghetti and Sauce
While the bread is toasting, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti according to package directions until al dente.
Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon. Drain off any excess grease. Stir in the minced garlic and Italian seasoning, and cook for another minute until fragrant.
Pour in the marinara sauce, season with salt and pepper, and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat and let it simmer for at least 10 minutes for the flavors to meld. Once the spaghetti is cooked, drain it and add it to the skillet with the sauce, tossing to combine everything thoroughly. For a similar dish with a creamy twist, you might also love this Creamy Chicken Penne recipe.
The perfect combination of pasta and garlic bread, all in one incredible bowl.
Step 3: Assemble and Bake Your Spaghetti Garlic Bread Bowls
Now for the fun part! Generously fill each toasted garlic bread bowl with the spaghetti and meat sauce mixture. Pack it in well. Top each bowl with a handful of shredded mozzarella cheese.
Place the filled bowls back on the baking sheet and bake for another 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and slightly golden. Serve immediately with the toasted bread “lids” on the side for dipping. If you love cheesy, pull-apart bread, give these Garlic Cheese Bombs a try next!
Tips for the Perfect Garlic Bread Bowls
Want to ensure your bowls are absolutely perfect? Follow these simple tips from a seasoned pro.
Choose the Right Bread: Use crusty, sturdy bread like boules or kaiser rolls that can hold their shape.
Don’t Skip the Toasting: Pre-baking the bowls creates a barrier that prevents the sauce from making the bread soggy.
Thicken Your Sauce: If your marinara sauce is a bit thin, let it simmer for a few extra minutes to thicken up before adding the pasta.
Shred Your Own Cheese: For the best melt, buy a block of mozzarella and shred it yourself. Pre-shredded cheeses have anti-caking agents that can affect the texture.
Fun Variations to Try
This recipe is a fantastic starting point, but feel free to get creative! Here are a few ideas to switch things up.
Add Meatballs: Tuck a few small, pre-cooked meatballs into the spaghetti.
Creamy Sauce: Swap the marinara for an Alfredo sauce. This White Garlic Pizza Sauce would also be a delicious alternative.
Spicy Kick: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the meat sauce for some heat.
These Spaghetti Garlic Bread Bowls are a hearty meal on their own, but a simple side dish can complete the experience. A fresh Caesar salad or a simple green salad with a light vinaigrette provides a refreshing contrast to the rich pasta. Steamed broccoli or roasted asparagus also makes a great, healthy addition.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
Leftovers are unlikely, but if you have them, it’s best to store the spaghetti mixture separately from the bread bowls. Keep the spaghetti in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The bread bowls can be stored in a zip-top bag at room temperature.
To reheat, place the bread bowl in a 350°F (175°C) oven for about 5 minutes to crisp up. Warm the spaghetti in the microwave or on the stovetop, then fill the bowl and serve.
Frequently Asked Questions About Spaghetti Garlic Bread Bowls
The best bread to use is a crusty, dense loaf with a firm exterior, such as a small bread boule, sourdough round, or large, sturdy kaiser roll. This type of bread is strong enough to hold the spaghetti and sauce without falling apart.
The key to preventing a soggy bread bowl is to toast it before filling. Brushing the inside with garlic butter and baking it for 8-10 minutes creates a seal that helps prevent the sauce from soaking through the bread.
You can prepare the components ahead of time. The spaghetti and meat sauce can be made and refrigerated for up to 2 days. You can also hollow out the bread bowls. When ready to serve, toast the bowls, reheat the sauce, fill, top with cheese, and bake until hot and bubbly.
While you can use thick-sliced, store-bought garlic bread as a base (creating more of an open-faced boat), using a whole bread boule that you can hollow out creates the signature ‘bowl’ experience and holds more spaghetti.
More Delicious Dinner Recipes
We hope you loved this fun and delicious recipe! If you did, be sure to share it with your friends and family. Don’t forget to save it to your favorite board on Pinterest so you can always find it!
Forget plates! These Spaghetti Garlic Bread Bowls are the only way to eat pasta from now on.
Spaghetti Garlic Bread Bowls Recipe
FL Recipes
Spaghetti Garlic Bread Bowls (The Ultimate Comfort Food Mashup!)
The ultimate comfort food! Learn to make epic Spaghetti Garlic Bread Bowls with a rich meat sauce, baked in a crispy, buttery garlic bread bowl and topped with bubbly mozzarella cheese.
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Slice the top off each bread boule. Scoop out the soft bread from the inside, leaving a 1/2-inch wall.
In a small bowl, mix melted butter, garlic powder, and parsley. Brush the mixture inside the bread bowls and on the tops. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes until lightly toasted.
While bread is toasting, cook spaghetti according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Cook the onion until soft. Add ground beef and cook until browned. Drain grease. Stir in minced garlic and Italian seasoning.
Pour in marinara sauce, season with salt and pepper, and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the cooked spaghetti to the sauce and toss to combine.
Fill each toasted bread bowl with the spaghetti mixture. Top generously with shredded mozzarella cheese.
Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Calories: 780kcalProtein: 38gFat: 35gFiber: 7g
Notes
Choosing the Right Bread: Use a crusty bread like a boule or kaiser roll that is sturdy enough to hold the filling without becoming soggy. Don't Skip Toasting: Pre-baking the bread bowls is the most important step to prevent them from getting mushy after you add the sauce. Thicken Your Sauce: If your sauce seems thin, allow it to simmer for an extra 5-10 minutes to reduce and thicken before you add the pasta.
Hi, I’m Emily Carter, and welcome to FL Recipes! I share simple, healthy recipes that make cooking easy, fun, and delicious for everyone. more about me »
