Description
Million Dollar Spaghetti is a rich and creamy casserole featuring tender spaghetti noodles layered with a flavorful lean ground beef sauce, a luscious blend of cottage cheese, cream cheese, and sour cream, all topped with melted sharp cheddar cheese. This comforting dish is perfect for a family dinner and delivers a delicious combination of texture and taste.
Ingredients
Pasta
- 1 (8 ounce) package spaghetti
Meat Sauce
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 (16 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
Dairy & Butter
- ½ cup butter, sliced - divided
- 1 (8 ounce) container cottage cheese
- 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1 (8 ounce) package shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Ingredients: Gather all ingredients and preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) to ensure it reaches the right temperature for baking the casserole.
- Cook Spaghetti: Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook until al dente, about 8 to 12 minutes. Drain the pasta thoroughly to prevent excess moisture in the casserole.
- Cook Ground Beef: While the pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the lean ground beef and cook, stirring frequently, until browned and crumbly, about 5 to 7 minutes. Drain and discard the grease to keep the dish leaner.
- Combine Beef and Sauce: Transfer the browned beef to a bowl and stir in the jarred spaghetti sauce until evenly combined, creating a savory meat sauce.
- Prepare Casserole Base: Place half of the butter slices evenly on the bottom of a 9x13-inch casserole dish. Spread half of the cooked spaghetti over the butter to create the first pasta layer.
- Mix and Add Cheese Layer: In a separate bowl, combine cottage cheese, softened cream cheese, and sour cream until smooth. Spread this creamy cheese mixture evenly over the first spaghetti layer in the casserole dish.
- Add Remaining Pasta and Butter: Cover the cheese layer with the remaining spaghetti. Top this with the remaining slices of butter to add richness during baking.
- Top with Meat Sauce: Pour the meat sauce evenly over the layered spaghetti and spread it out to cover the surface completely.
- Bake the Casserole: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes to meld the flavors and heat through.
- Add Cheese and Continue Baking: Remove the casserole from the oven, sprinkle shredded sharp Cheddar cheese evenly on top, then return to the oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes until the cheese has melted and is lightly browned.
- Serve and Enjoy: Let the casserole cool slightly before serving. Enjoy this hearty and creamy Million Dollar Spaghetti with family and friends!
Notes
- For a lighter version, use reduced-fat or low-fat cream cheese and cheese.
- You can substitute ground turkey for a leaner meat option.
- If preferred, use homemade spaghetti sauce for a more personalized flavor.
- Allow casserole to rest for 5-10 minutes after baking to set before serving.
- Ensure spaghetti is not overcooked to maintain texture in the casserole.