Description
Million Dollar Spaghetti is a rich and creamy baked pasta dish featuring a savory meat sauce layered with a luscious blend of cream cheese, sour cream, and cottage cheese, all topped with melted mozzarella and parmesan. This comforting casserole blends classic Italian flavors with a decadent creamy cheese layer for an indulgent family-friendly meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 16 ounces spaghetti noodles
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 cup marinara sauce (reserved)
Meat Sauce
- 1/2 pound ground beef
- 1/2 pound ground Italian sausage (or pork sausage)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 24 ounces marinara sauce (use 23.5 oz in sauce, 0.5 oz reserved)
Cheese Layer
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 cup cottage cheese or ricotta cheese
Toppings
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2/3 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the assembled spaghetti casserole.
- Make Meat Sauce: In a large skillet, cook and crumble the ground beef and Italian sausage over medium heat until browned. Season with salt and pepper. Drain most of the grease from the skillet. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the meat and cook until the onion becomes translucent, about 3-5 minutes. Stir in all but 1/2 cup of the marinara sauce, combine well, then remove from heat and set aside.
- Prepare Noodles: Cook the spaghetti noodles according to the package instructions until just al dente. Drain thoroughly, then transfer the hot noodles to a large mixing bowl. Add the butter and the reserved 1/2 cup marinara sauce to the noodles and toss well to combine and coat evenly.
- Make Cheese Layer: In a separate bowl, blend together the softened cream cheese, sour cream, and cottage cheese (or ricotta) until smooth and well combined, creating a creamy cheese mixture.
- Assemble the Casserole: In a 9×13 inch baking pan, spread half of the spaghetti noodles evenly on the bottom. Layer the creamy cheese mixture evenly over the noodles. Top the cheese layer with the remaining spaghetti noodles. Pour the prepared meat sauce over the top and spread into an even layer. Finally, sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese and grated parmesan cheese evenly over the casserole.
- Bake: Place the assembled casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the dish is hot and bubbly. Check around 20 minutes into baking; if the cheese appears to be browning too quickly, tent a piece of foil over the top to prevent burning.
- Rest Before Serving: Once baked, allow the casserole to rest for at least 15 minutes before cutting and serving. This helps the dish to set up and makes serving cleaner and easier. Enjoy your creamy, delicious Million Dollar Spaghetti!
Notes
- You can substitute ricotta cheese for the cottage cheese in the cheese layer for a smoother texture.
- For a spicier version, add red pepper flakes to the meat sauce while cooking.
- Ensure not to overcook the spaghetti noodles to avoid mushy layers after baking.
- Letting the casserole rest before serving is important for clean slices and better texture.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated; the dish also freezes well for future meals.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Keywords: spaghetti casserole, baked spaghetti, creamy pasta, Italian comfort food, layered pasta bake
