Description
Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole is a comforting and cheesy baked pasta dish featuring layers of al dente spaghetti, rich ground beef marinara, and a creamy blend of cream cheese, cottage cheese, and sour cream. Topped with mozzarella and Parmesan, it bakes to golden perfection, making it a hearty and crowd-pleasing main course perfect for family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Spaghetti and Meat Sauce
- 1 pound spaghetti
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 (24 oz) jar marinara or pasta sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, sliced
Cheese Mixture
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the casserole later on.
- Cook Spaghetti: Boil salted water in a large pot and cook the spaghetti until al dente according to package instructions. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
- Brown Ground Beef: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until browned, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain excess grease from the skillet.
- Prepare Meat Sauce: To the browned beef, add the marinara sauce, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir well and let it simmer briefly to combine flavors.
- Mix Cheese Filling: In a medium bowl, combine softened cream cheese, cottage cheese, and sour cream. Mix until smooth and creamy.
- Assemble Casserole: Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Spread half of the cooked spaghetti evenly on the bottom. Distribute the slices of butter over the noodles. Then spread the cheese mixture over the spaghetti layer.
- Add Remaining Spaghetti and Sauce: Layer the remaining spaghetti over the cheese mixture. Pour the prepared meat sauce evenly over the top layer of noodles.
- Add Cheese Toppings: Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan evenly over the casserole.
- Bake: Place the baking dish uncovered in the preheated oven. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbly and the cheese on top is golden brown.
- Rest Before Serving: Remove from the oven and allow the casserole to rest for 10 minutes to set before slicing and serving.
Notes
- You can swap cottage cheese for ricotta if preferred for a different texture.
- This dish freezes well — assemble it ahead of time and bake later when ready.
- For extra richness and flavor, use Italian sausage instead of ground beef.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
