Description
Indulge in the decadent flavors of this Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole, a rich and comforting dish that’s perfect for family dinners or gatherings. Layers of creamy cheeses, savory meat sauce, and perfectly cooked spaghetti come together in one delightful bite.
Ingredients
Spaghetti:
16 ounces spaghetti,
Ground Beef Mixture:
1 pound ground beef, 1 jar (24 ounces) marinara or pasta sauce,
Cheese Mixture:
8 ounces cream cheese (softened), 1 cup cottage cheese, ½ cup sour cream, 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, 2 tablespoons butter (cubed), salt and pepper to taste, chopped parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cook the spaghetti: Cook the spaghetti according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Cook the ground beef: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until browned. Drain any excess fat, then stir in the marinara sauce. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- Prepare the cheese mixture: In a separate bowl, mix together the cream cheese, cottage cheese, and sour cream until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
- Assemble the casserole: Layer half of the cooked spaghetti in the bottom of the prepared dish. Spread the cheese mixture evenly over the noodles. Top with the remaining spaghetti. Place butter cubes over the top, then pour the meat sauce evenly across. Sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.
- Bake: Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10–15 minutes, until bubbly and golden.
- Serve: Let rest for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired.
Notes
- You can substitute ricotta for cottage cheese if preferred.
- This casserole freezes well—assemble ahead and bake straight from frozen with extra time.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 670mg
- Fat: 29g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 39g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
