Here’s a rich, comforting, and ultra-satisfying recipe for Cheesy Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole — a baked pasta dish layered with meat sauce, creamy cheese filling, and loads of melted mozzarella. It’s like lasagna’s easier, cheesier cousin!
🧀🍝 Cheesy Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole
🔸 Ingredients
For the Pasta Base:
- 1 lb (450 g) spaghetti
- Salt (for boiling water)
- 2 tbsp butter (optional, for tossing with cooked pasta)
For the Meat Sauce:
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef (or half sausage, half beef)
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2–3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 jar (24 oz / ~700 g) marinara or pasta sauce
- Salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning to taste
For the Cheese Filling:
- 1 package (8 oz / 225 g) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup cottage cheese (or ricotta)
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
For Topping:
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
🔹 Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch (or similar) baking dish.
- Cook the pasta:
- Boil spaghetti until just al dente. Drain and toss with butter if desired. Set aside.
- Prepare the meat sauce:
- In a skillet, cook ground beef and onion until browned.
- Add garlic, cook 1 minute.
- Stir in marinara sauce and season to taste. Simmer for 5–10 minutes.
- Make the cheese layer:
- In a bowl, mix cream cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning until smooth.
- Assemble the casserole:
- Layer 1: Half of the spaghetti in the bottom of the baking dish.
- Layer 2: Spread all of the cheese mixture over the pasta.
- Layer 3: Add the remaining spaghetti.
- Layer 4: Pour all of the meat sauce over the top.
- Layer 5: Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan evenly over the sauce.
- Bake:
- Cover loosely with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake another 15–20 minutes, or until bubbly and golden on top.
- Cool slightly before serving (about 10 minutes for easier slicing).
✨ Tips:
- Add chopped spinach or fresh herbs to the cheese mixture for extra flavor.
- Can be made a day ahead and baked when needed.
- Freezes well — assemble, wrap, and freeze before baking.
Would you like a printable version or a version with chicken instead of beef?