Start your journey by preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C). This will ensure that your dish cooks evenly and achieves that perfect golden-brown top.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add your dried spaghetti, cooking it until it’s al dente. Usually, that’s about 8-10 minutes. Once done, drain the spaghetti and return it to the pot.

Add the marinara sauce to the cooked spaghetti. Stir in half of the shredded mozzarella cheese, the sea salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning. This melds the flavors beautifully and coats the spaghetti thoroughly.

Lightly grease a large baking dish with olive oil. This prevents the pasta from sticking and helps with easy cleanup.

Spread half of the spaghetti mixture into the baking dish. Then, nestle your thawed meatballs on top. Once that’s done, pour the remaining spaghetti mixture over the meatballs, covering them completely.

Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella on top of the casserole. Then finish it off with the grated Parmesan cheese. This will give you that enticing golden crust.

Cover the dish with foil and bake for 25 minutes. After that, uncover and bake for an additional 15 minutes. This will allow everything to meld together while giving you the crusty cheese topping to enjoy.

Once out of the oven, let it cool for a few minutes before digging in. Serve with garlic bread and a simple salad, and watch your family gather around the table, smiles all around.