Description
This Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole is the ultimate comfort food, combining creamy, cheesy layers with a hearty meat sauce and perfectly cooked spaghetti. It’s rich, indulgent, and tastes like a million bucks! Perfect for family dinners, potlucks, or meal prep.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Meat Sauce:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 jar (24 oz) spaghetti sauce
For the Creamy Cheese Layer:
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1/2 lb cottage cheese (1 cup)
For the Pasta Layer:
- 1 package (16 oz) spaghetti
- 1/2 cup butter (1 stick), sliced
For Topping:
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
Cook the Pasta & Meat Sauce:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cook spaghetti according to package instructions, then drain and toss with butter slices until coated.
- In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until browned. Drain excess grease.
- Stir in the spaghetti sauce and let it simmer for 5 minutes.
2. Make the Creamy Cheese Mixture:
- In a bowl, mix together cream cheese, sour cream, and cottage cheese until smooth.
3. Assemble the Casserole:
- Spread half of the spaghetti in the baking dish.
- Layer with the cheese mixture, spreading it evenly.
- Add the remaining spaghetti on top.
- Pour the meat sauce over the top layer.
- Sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
4. Bake & Serve:
- Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, until cheese is bubbly and golden.
- Let sit for 5 minutes, then serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
- Substitute ricotta cheese for cottage cheese if preferred.
- Add Italian seasoning, garlic powder, or red pepper flakes to the meat sauce for extra flavor.
- Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days or frozen for later.
