Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole

Here’s a delicious and indulgent recipe for Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole. This dish combines rich, creamy layers with hearty meat sauce and pasta, perfect for a comforting family dinner.

Ingredients

For the Meat Sauce:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 pound Italian sausage
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• Salt and pepper to taste

For the Creamy Layer:

• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup cottage cheese
• 1 cup sour cream

For the Pasta:

• 1 pound spaghetti
• 1/2 cup butter, sliced

For Topping:

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

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
2. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
3. Prepare the meat sauce:
   • In a large skillet or pot, cook the ground beef, Italian sausage, and chopped onion over medium-high heat until browned. Drain excess fat.
   • Add minced garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
   • Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, sugar, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer, reduce heat, and let it cook for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Prepare the creamy layer:
   • In a medium bowl, mix together the softened cream cheese, cottage cheese, and sour cream until smooth and well combined.
5. Assemble the casserole:
   • Spread half of the cooked spaghetti in the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
   • Dot with half of the butter slices.
   • Spread all of the creamy cheese mixture over the pasta.
   • Add the remaining spaghetti on top of the creamy layer and dot with the remaining butter slices.
   • Pour the meat sauce over the top layer of spaghetti and spread it evenly.
6. Bake the casserole:
   • Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese and grated Parmesan cheese over the top of the sauce.
   • Cover with aluminum 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.
7. Serve:
   • Let the casserole sit for about 10 minutes before serving to allow it to set.
   • Enjoy your Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole!

This recipe serves about 8 people. Feel free to adjust the seasonings and cheese amounts to your liking. Enjoy!