Description
Million dollar spaghetti casserole brings comfort and luxury to family dinners with its rich layers of pasta, creamy cheeses, and hearty meat sauce. Cheese lovers will savor each indulgent bite of this classic American comfort dish that promises warmth and satisfaction.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb spaghetti
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb cottage cheese
Sauce and Seasoning:
- 1 jar (24 ounces / 680 grams) pasta sauce
- 1/2 cup sour cream
Topping and Cheese:
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- 4 tablespoons butter
- Salted water (for cooking pasta)
Instructions
- Prepare the oven by heating to 350°F, ensuring a perfectly warm environment for baking.
- Boil spaghetti in generously salted water until it reaches near-perfect tenderness, then carefully drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, warm olive oil and introduce ground beef, finely chopped onion, and minced garlic. Sauté until the meat transforms into a rich, brown color, then eliminate excess fat.
- Infuse the meat with marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Allow the mixture to simmer and develop deep flavors for 10 minutes.
- Create a luxurious cheese blend by combining cream cheese, ricotta, sour cream, Parmesan, garlic powder, and a delicate touch of salt in a mixing bowl.
- Prepare a 9×13 baking dish with a light coating of grease, then distribute half of the prepared spaghetti across the bottom.
- Generously spread the creamy cheese mixture over the initial pasta layer, ensuring even coverage.
- Complete the layering by adding the remaining spaghetti, then lavishly top with the seasoned meat sauce.
- Sprinkle a generous layer of mozzarella cheese across the surface, optionally enhancing with additional Parmesan or fragrant herbs.
- Shield the casserole with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and continue baking for an additional 10–15 minutes until the top achieves a golden, bubbling perfection.
- Allow the casserole to rest and settle for 10 minutes before serving, letting the flavors meld and intensify.
Notes
- Achieve perfect pasta texture by cooking spaghetti just shy of al dente, as it continues cooking in the oven, preventing mushy results.
- Drain excess fat from ground beef thoroughly to keep the casserole from becoming greasy and maintain a clean, rich flavor profile.
- Customize the dish for dietary needs by substituting ground beef with turkey, plant-based meat alternatives, or extra vegetables for a lighter version.
- Enhance meal prep by assembling the casserole in advance and refrigerating until ready to bake, making it perfect for busy weeknight dinners or potluck gatherings.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 0 mg
- Fat: 1 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg