Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole

Here’s a delicious recipe for Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole. It’s a comforting and rich dish, perfect for family dinners.

Ingredients

For the Meat Sauce

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 pound Italian sausage
• 1 small onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 jar (24 ounces) marinara sauce
• 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• Salt and pepper to taste

For the Cheese Mixture

• 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup cottage cheese
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (optional)

For the Pasta

• 1 pound spaghetti
• Salt for pasta water
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

For Topping

• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Cook the Pasta:
   • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
   • Cook the spaghetti according to package directions until al dente.
   • Drain and toss with 1 tablespoon of olive oil to prevent sticking. Set aside.
3. Prepare the Meat Sauce:
   • In a large skillet, cook the ground beef and Italian sausage over medium heat until browned.
   • Drain any excess fat.
   • Add the diced onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
   • Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute.
   • Add the marinara sauce, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
   • Simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Prepare the Cheese Mixture:
   • In a medium bowl, mix together the cream cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, shredded mozzarella cheese, grated Parmesan cheese, and parsley until well combined.
5. Assemble the Casserole:
   • In a 9×13 inch baking dish, spread a thin layer of the meat sauce on the bottom.
   • Add half of the cooked spaghetti on top of the sauce.
   • Spread the cheese mixture over the spaghetti.
   • Add the remaining spaghetti on top of the cheese mixture.
   • Pour the remaining meat sauce evenly over the top.
6. Top the Casserole:
   • Sprinkle the remaining shredded mozzarella cheese and grated Parmesan cheese over the casserole.
7. Bake:
   • Cover the baking dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.
   • Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
8. Serve:
   • Allow the casserole to cool for a few minutes before serving.
   • Garnish with additional chopped parsley if desired.

Enjoy your Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole!