Description
Saucy million dollar spaghetti casserole brings comfort straight from Grandma’s kitchen to your dinner table. Creamy layers of pasta, rich meat sauce, and melted cheese promise a hearty meal that satisfies you completely.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef
- 1 pound (454 grams) spaghetti
Cheeses:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup (226 grams) cottage cheese
- 2 cups (226 grams) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup (50 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
Sauces and Seasonings:
- 24 ounces (680 grams) marinara sauce
- 1 cup (227 grams) sour cream
- 2 tablespoons (28 grams) butter
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the oven by heating to 350F (175C) for optimal baking conditions.
- Cook spaghetti according to package directions, ensuring al dente texture, then drain and set aside.
- Brown ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat, thoroughly cooking and eliminating excess fat.
- Incorporate marinara sauce into the beef, allowing flavors to meld for 5-7 minutes on gentle simmer.
- Create a creamy cheese blend by whisking together softened cream cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, and half the mozzarella until smooth and well-combined.
- Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and distribute first layer of cooked spaghetti across the bottom.
- Spread the entire cheese mixture evenly over the initial spaghetti layer, covering completely.
- Add remaining spaghetti as the second layer, creating a strategic pasta foundation.
- Cascade meat sauce uniformly across the spaghetti layers, ensuring thorough coverage.
- Generously sprinkle remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses over the top.
- Strategically dot surface with butter pieces for enhanced richness.
- Bake in preheated oven for 30-35 minutes until cheese transforms into golden, bubbling perfection.
Notes
- Enhance the casserole’s richness by using high-quality ground beef with a slightly higher fat content for more flavor depth.
- Create a lighter version by substituting ground turkey or plant-based meat alternative for a healthier protein option.
- Make it gluten-free by using gluten-free spaghetti and checking that marinara sauce is certified gluten-free.
- Prep ahead by assembling the casserole a day in advance and refrigerating, then bake when ready to serve for maximum convenience.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 682 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 540 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 46 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg