Description
Creamy, cheesy million dollar spaghetti brings Italian-American comfort to your dinner table with layers of rich meat sauce and melted cheese. Comfort meets luxury in this crowd-pleasing casserole you’ll want to savor bite after delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Protein:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 large egg
- 1 pound spaghetti
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup cottage cheese
Cheeses and Dairy:
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Sauce and Seasonings:
- 1 jar (24 ounces) marinara sauce
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley or basil, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Warm the oven to a moderate 350°F, preparing for a luxurious pasta transformation.
- Cook pasta in salted water until perfectly al dente, then thoroughly drain to prevent wateriness.
- In a heavy skillet, transform ground beef into a rich, caramelized base by browning over medium heat, carefully eliminating excess fat.
- Enhance the meat with marinara sauce, allowing flavors to meld and intensify during a gentle 5-minute simmer.
- Create a velvety cheese blend by whisking cream cheese, cottage cheese, and sour cream until achieving a silky, uniform consistency.
- Craft the first pasta layer in a generously buttered 9×13-inch baking vessel, spreading the luscious cheese mixture as a creamy foundation.
- Construct the second pasta layer, then lavishly coat with the robust meat sauce, ensuring complete and even coverage.
- Generously crown the dish with a blanket of mozzarella and Parmesan, creating a golden, crispy cheese topping.
- Strategically dot the surface with butter fragments to enhance richness and promote beautiful caramelization.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes until the cheese transforms into a bubbling, golden landscape of deliciousness.
- Allow the casserole to rest and settle for 10 minutes, enabling flavors to harmonize before serving.
Notes
- Make the dish lighter by using lean ground beef or turkey to reduce fat content.
- Enhance nutrition by adding finely chopped vegetables like spinach or zucchini into the cheese mixture for extra vitamins.
- Prepare ahead by assembling the casserole a day before and refrigerating, which allows flavors to develop more intensely.
- Substitute cottage cheese with ricotta for a smoother, richer texture if preferred by family or guests.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 622 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 557 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 115 mg