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The Creamy One-Ingredient Swap Your Baked Spaghetti Needs By Javaria Akbar Oct. 7, 2025 4:39 pm EST

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Spaghetti baked in an aromatic marinara sauce and topped with oodles of cheese makes for a low-fuss weeknight dinner. However, if you've had your fill of tomato and oregano, there's one creamy ingredient swap your baked pasta recipes need: a dash of dairy, such as heavy cream, milk, or soft cream cheese.

Marinara-based pasta has a slight twang to it due to the natural acidity present in the tomatoes used to make the sauce. Spaghetti prepared with cream has a more mellow vibe. This is due to the extra fat in dairy products, which imbues the noodles with a thicker and heavier texture. What's more, protein-rich ingredients like cream and milk

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