Million Dollar Spaghetti Recipe
This Million Dollar Spaghetti recipe layers al dente spaghetti with savory ground beef, creamy cheeses, and a rich tomato sauce for a cheesy, comforting casserole. It’s the ultimate family-friendly dinner that’s easy to make and perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
- 16 oz dried spaghetti noodles
For the sauce:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 28 oz crushed tomatoes
- 6 oz tomato paste
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp sugar
For the filling:
- 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature (for easy spreading)
- 1 1/2 cups cottage cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheese (mozzarella, parmesan, cheddar, ect.)
Instructions
- Make the Sauce: In a large skillet or saucepan, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat. Drain excess fat if necessary. Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, basil, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and sugar. Stir to combine, then simmer on low heat for 10–15 minutes to blend the flavors.
- Cook the Spaghetti: Boil 1 pound of spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, reserving a small amount of pasta water if needed (to loosen the sauce if it's too thick). Toss the noodles with a few spoonfuls of sauce so they don’t stick together.
Preheat the oven to 350°F
- Assemble the First Layer: Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Spread half of the spaghetti evenly in the bottom of the dish. Pour half of the remaining sauce over the noodles.
- Add the Creamy Middle Layer: Spread the cream cheese evenly over the noodles and sauce. Layer cottage cheese on top of the cream cheese.
- Add the Top Layer: Top the cheese layer with the remaining spaghetti noodles. Pour the remaining sauce over the top and sprinkle with shredded cheese.
- Bake the Casserole: Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and slightly golden.
- Serve: Let the casserole cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving. Enjoy!