Million Dollar Spaghetti Dinner
Baked spaghetti casserole with a hearty meat sauce and a creamy cheese layer, finished with melted mozzarella
PRINT PINServings 8
INGREDIENTS
Pasta
- 12 oz spaghetti
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt for pasta water.
Meat Sauce
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 small yellow onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 24 oz marinara sauce
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes optional.
Creamy Layer
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 1 cup cottage cheese or ricotta cheese
- ½ cup sour cream.
Cheese Topping
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese.
Optional
- chopped fresh parsley for garnish.
INSTRUCTIONS
Prep Components
- heat oven to 350 degrees F and lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish
- cook spaghetti in salted water until al dente then drain and toss with olive oil
- cook ground beef and onion in a skillet over medium heat until browned then drain excess fat
- stir in garlic and cook briefly then add marinara sauce tomato paste and seasonings and simmer 5 to 10 minutes
- mix cream cheese cottage cheese and sour cream until smooth.
Assemble And Bake
- spread half the spaghetti in the baking dish then dollop and spread the creamy layer over the noodles
- add remaining spaghetti then pour meat sauce evenly over the top
- sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan over the sauce
- bake uncovered 30 to 35 minutes until hot and bubbly then rest 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
1. Use Italian sausage in place of beef or use half beef and half sausage; Swap cottage cheese for ricotta for a smoother texture; Make ahead by assembling and refrigerating up to 24 hours then bake adding 10 to 15 minutes; Freeze tightly wrapped up to 2 months and thaw overnight before baking; Add sauteed mushrooms or spinach to the sauce for extra veggies
Nutrition
Calories: 620kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 33g