Description
Million Dollar Spaghetti is a comforting baked pasta dish featuring layers of tender spaghetti, creamy cheese mixture, savory Italian sausage, and rich spaghetti sauce, all topped with melted mozzarella cheese. This hearty casserole combines classic flavors into an easy-to-make meal perfect for family dinners or potlucks.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Sauce
- 1 lb Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1 (26-oz) jar spaghetti sauce
Cheese Mixture
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 1 (8-oz) package cream cheese, room temperature
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 2 Tbsp parsley
- ½ tsp garlic powder
Pasta and Topping
- 8 oz spaghetti
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 350ºF (175ºC). Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking during baking.
- Cook Spaghetti: Cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain thoroughly and set aside to cool slightly.
- Brown Sausage and Add Sauce: In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the Italian sausage until fully cooked, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain any excess fat, then stir in the spaghetti sauce and remove from heat.
- Mix Cheese Filling: In a large bowl, combine the cottage cheese, softened cream cheese, sour cream, parsley, and garlic powder. Mix well until smooth and evenly blended.
- Assemble Layers: Spread half of the cooked spaghetti evenly in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Spread the cheese mixture evenly over the noodles. Next, layer the remaining spaghetti on top. Pour the meat sauce evenly over the pasta layers, then sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese on top.
- Bake: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake uncovered for 45 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Cool and Serve: Remove from oven and allow the casserole to cool for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing and serving. This helps the layers set for cleaner servings.
Notes
- Using room temperature cream cheese ensures a smoother, more even cheese mixture.
- You can substitute ground beef or turkey for Italian sausage if preferred.
- For added flavor, consider mixing in some chopped onions or bell peppers with the sausage when browning.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- This dish can be made ahead of time and refrigerated before baking; just add about 10 extra minutes to the baking time if baking straight from the fridge.
