Description
Million-dollar spaghetti delivers pure comfort with layers of rich meat sauce, creamy cheese, and pasta perfection. Hearty flavors blend seamlessly, creating a crowd-pleasing dish that makes any dinner feel like a special celebration.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 16 ounces (453 grams) spaghetti noodles
Meat and Sauce Components:
- ½ pound (227 grams) ground beef
- ½ pound (227 grams) Italian sausage
- 24 ounces (680 grams) marinara sauce
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Cheese Layer:
- 8 ounces (227 grams) cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) sour cream
- 1 cup (226 grams) cottage cheese
Toppings:
- 2 cups (226 grams) shredded mozzarella cheese
- ⅔ cup (150 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 tablespoons (45 grams) butter, sliced
Instructions
- Prepare the pasta strands by immersing them in a generously salted boiling water bath. Cook until they reach a tender yet firm consistency. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
- In a spacious skillet, brown the ground beef and sausage, carefully eliminating any excess fat. Introduce finely diced onions and minced garlic, sautéing until they become translucent and fragrant. Incorporate marinara sauce, reserving a small portion for later. Allow the mixture to simmer and develop rich flavors.
- Create a luscious cheese blend by combining cream cheese, sour cream, and cottage cheese. Whisk until the mixture transforms into a smooth, uniform consistency.
- Warm the oven to 350F. Strategically arrange butter slices across the bottom of a prepared baking vessel. Layer half the cooked spaghetti, then spread the creamy cheese mixture evenly. Add the remaining pasta and dot with additional butter slices.
- Cascade the meat sauce over the layered pasta, ensuring complete coverage. Drizzle the reserved marinara for an extra burst of flavor. Generously sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses across the top.
- Transfer to the heated oven and bake uncovered until the casserole becomes gloriously bubbling and the cheese melts into a golden, enticing crust. If the cheese browns too rapidly, loosely tent with aluminum foil.
- Remove from the oven and allow the casserole to rest and settle for several minutes. This brief waiting period ensures cleaner, more defined serving portions and allows the flavors to meld perfectly.
Notes
- Select high-quality ground beef and Italian sausage for deeper, richer flavor profiles that elevate the entire dish.
- Use room temperature cream cheese to ensure smooth, lump-free blending with other cheese ingredients.
- Generously salt pasta water to enhance the base flavor of the spaghetti before combining with robust meat sauce.
- Consider draining meat thoroughly to prevent excess grease from making the casserole soggy and heavy.
- Experiment with fresh herbs like basil or oregano mixed into the cheese layer for an aromatic twist on the classic recipe.
- For gluten-free version, substitute regular spaghetti with zucchini noodles or gluten-free pasta alternatives.
- Prepare casserole ahead of time and refrigerate overnight, allowing flavors to meld and intensify before baking.
- Allow dish to rest after baking to help set the layers and make slicing cleaner and more presentable.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 590
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg