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Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole

Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole

"Try this Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole recipe—layers of pasta, rich meat sauce, and creamy cheese make this dish taste like a million bucks! Perfect for family dinners & potlucks."
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Resting Time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Course Appetizer, Main Course, Salad
Cuisine American
Servings 10 People
Calories 500 kcal

Ingredients
  

For the Meat Sauce:

  • 1 lb ground beef (or Italian sausage for extra flavor)
  • 1 small onion diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 24 oz jar marinara sauce (or homemade sauce)
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional for heat)

For the Cheese Layer:

  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • ½ cup cottage cheese (or ricotta)
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

For the Pasta & Topping:

  • 12 oz spaghetti noodles
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • ¼ cup butter melted
  • ½ cup breadcrumbs (optional for crunch)

Instructions
 

Preheat the Oven & Prepare the Pasta

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  • Cook the spaghetti noodles according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.

Make the Meat Sauce

  • In a large skillet, brown the ground beef (or sausage) with onion and garlic over medium heat.
  • Drain excess grease, then stir in the marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using).
  • Simmer for 5-7 minutes, then remove from heat.

Prepare the Creamy Cheese Layer

  • In a mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, cottage cheese (or ricotta), and Parmesan cheese. Mix until smooth.

Assemble the Casserole

  • Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
  • Spread half of the cooked spaghetti in the bottom of the dish.
  • Layer the cream cheese mixture evenly over the noodles.
  • Add the remaining spaghetti on top.
  • Pour the meat sauce over the noodles, spreading it evenly.
  • Sprinkle mozzarella and cheddar cheese on top.
  • Drizzle with melted butter and breadcrumbs (if using) for a crispy topping.

Bake to Perfection

  • Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
  • Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
  • Let it rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.