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Million Dollar Spaghetti Recipe

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4.1 from 12 reviews

Million Dollar Spaghetti is a hearty and comforting casserole combining perfectly cooked spaghetti noodles with a rich lean ground beef sauce, creamy cottage and cream cheese mixture, and topped with sharp Cheddar cheese. Baked to golden perfection, this dish is irresistibly delicious and makes a satisfying family meal.

Ingredients

Pasta

  • 1 (8 ounce) package spaghetti

Meat Sauce

  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 (16 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce

Dairy and Toppings

  • 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

  1. Preheat Oven: Gather all ingredients and preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) to prepare for baking the casserole.
  2. Cook Spaghetti: Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add spaghetti and cook until just firm to the bite, about 8 to 12 minutes. Drain the spaghetti and set aside.
  3. Cook Ground Beef: While the pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the lean ground beef and cook, stirring until browned and crumbly, about 5 to 7 minutes. Drain excess grease.
  4. Mix Meat Sauce: Transfer the cooked ground beef to a bowl and stir in the jar of spaghetti sauce until well combined.
  5. Assemble Casserole - Layer 1: Place half of the sliced butter in the bottom of a 9x13-inch casserole dish. Spread half of the cooked spaghetti evenly over the butter.
  6. Assemble Casserole - Cheese Layer: In a separate bowl, mix together the cottage cheese, softened cream cheese, and sour cream until smooth. Spread this mixture evenly over the spaghetti layer in the casserole dish.
  7. Assemble Casserole - Layer 2: Spread the remaining spaghetti over the cheese mixture and place the remaining butter slices evenly over this layer.
  8. Add Meat Sauce: Pour the ground beef and spaghetti sauce mixture over the top of the assembled dish and spread it out evenly.
  9. Bake Initial Layer: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake uncovered for 30 minutes to set and meld the flavors.
  10. Add Cheddar Cheese and Finish Baking: Remove the casserole from oven, sprinkle the shredded sharp Cheddar cheese evenly over the top, then return to the oven and bake an additional 15 minutes until the cheese is melted and lightly browned.
  11. Serve: Remove from oven and let cool slightly before serving. Enjoy this rich and satisfying Million Dollar Spaghetti casserole!

Notes

  • Use lean ground beef to reduce excess grease in the casserole.
  • Make sure to soften cream cheese beforehand for easy mixing.
  • Feel free to substitute sharp Cheddar with your favorite melting cheese.
  • Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven.
  • This dish pairs well with a simple green salad and garlic bread for a complete meal.

Find it online: https://cookedbygrace.com/million-dollar-spaghetti-recipe/