Million Dollar Spaghetti
Ingredients
- 12 ozspaghetti
- 8 ozmarinara sauce
- 1 cshredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 tbspolive oil
- 2 lbground beef and/or italian sausage
- 2minced garlic cloves
- 1 tbspdried minced onion
- 32 ozmarinara sauce
- 2 tspitalian seasoning
- seasoning salt or salt and black pepper
amount as desired
- optional garnishes: sliced green onions or snipped fresh basil
- 8 ozcream cheese
softened
- 2 ccottage cheese or ricotta
- 2 cshredded mozzarella cheese
divided
- 1 cshredded cheddar cheese
divided
- seasoning salt or salt ad black pepper
amount as desired
Directions
- 1
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 13x9-baking dish with nonstick spray or butter.
- 2
Cook spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and place in the prepared baking dish.
- 3
Fold the cooked spaghetti with marinara sauce and shredded mozzarella cheese. Spread evenly. Drizzle with olive oil.
- 4
In a large skillet, cook the ground meat over medium heat until browned. Drain any excess fat. Add garlic, dried minced onion, Italian seasoning, and seasoning salt. Cook 1 minute.
- 5
Stir in marinara sauce. Simmer for 10 minutes.
- 6
Pour the mixture over the spaghetti layer and spread evenly.
- 7
In a mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, cottage cheese or ricotta cheese, ½ cup of the mozzarella cheese, ½ cup of the cheddar cheese and salt and pepper. Mix until smooth.
- 8
Using a scoop or spoon, dollop the cheese mixture all over the meat sauce layer. Spread in an even layer with the back of a spoon or offset spatula.
- 9
Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and cheddar cheese on top.
- 10
Cover with aluminum foil. Bake 30 minutes. Uncover and bake another 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
- 11
Cool for a few minutes before serving. Garnish if desired.
Million Dollar Spaghetti
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About this Recipe
Craving a comforting, hearty main course that feeds a crowd and tastes like a million bucks? This Million Dollar Spaghetti delivers an impressive pasta bake with irresistible layers, perfect for family dinners or entertaining.
Why This Million Dollar Spaghetti Works
The magic lies in its generous layers of tender spaghetti, rich meat sauce, and an abundance of gooey, melted cheese. This recipe combines the satisfying flavors of classic spaghetti with the comforting structure of a baked casserole, making it a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that serves up to 12 people.
What to Expect
Prepare for a truly satisfying and rich culinary experience. Each forkful of this Million Dollar Spaghetti brings together savory ground beef and/or Italian sausage, tangy marinara, and a creamy, cheesy blend of softened cream cheese, cottage cheese (or ricotta), and both shredded mozzarella and cheddar. The result is a wonderfully textured dish with hearty noodles, a robust meat sauce, and an incredibly cheesy, melt-in-your-mouth interior. It's a comforting, filling main course that comes together in about an hour.
Customization & Variations
Feel free to tailor this Million Dollar Spaghetti to your preferences. You can use all ground beef, all Italian sausage, or a combination of both for your meat sauce. For the creamy cheese layer, either cottage cheese or ricotta works beautifully. For an extra touch of freshness and color, consider garnishing with sliced green onions or snipped fresh basil before serving.
Serving & Context
This robust pasta bake is ideal for feeding a large family, bringing to a potluck, or serving as a comforting dinner on a chilly evening. Present it directly from the baking dish for a warm, inviting spread.