Description

Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole is a rich and creamy baked pasta dish featuring layers of spaghetti, savory Italian sausage and ground beef in marinara sauce, combined with a luscious mixture of cream cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, and mozzarella. Topped with parmesan and butter for added flavor and baked to golden perfection, this hearty casserole is perfect for family dinners or gatherings serving up to 12 people.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta

1 pound spaghetti noodles

Meat and Sauce

1 pound ground Italian sausage
1 pound ground beef
1 yellow onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, pressed
2 jars (24 ounce each) marinara sauce, any variety

Cheese Mixture

1 package (8 ounce) cream cheese, softened
1 cup cottage cheese
¼ cup sour cream
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Other

½ cup butter, sliced
Fresh parsley, for garnish

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Instructions

Cook Spaghetti: Cook the spaghetti noodles according to package directions until al dente. Drain well and toss with 1 jar of marinara sauce to lightly coat. Set aside to prepare the other components.
Prepare Meat Sauce: In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef and Italian sausage with the diced onion and pressed garlic until fully cooked and fragrant. Drain off any excess grease carefully. Stir in the second jar of marinara sauce and simmer the mixture until heated through and well combined.
Make Cheese Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine softened cream cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, and 1 ½ cups of shredded mozzarella cheese. Mix thoroughly until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
Assemble the Casserole: Place the butter slices evenly in the bottom of a 13×9 inch deep-dish casserole dish. Layer half of the spaghetti coated with marinara sauce over the butter. Spread the cheese mixture evenly over the spaghetti layer. Next, add the remaining spaghetti on top and cover it with the meat sauce. Finally, sprinkle the remaining 1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese and the grated Parmesan cheese evenly over the top.
Bake: Bake uncovered in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 30-35 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbly, and the cheese on top is melted and golden brown.
Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven, let cool slightly then garnish with fresh parsley before serving.

Notes

Use Italian sausage with or without casing, as preferred.
For a lower-fat version, substitute part-skim mozzarella and reduced-fat cream cheese.
Let casserole rest 5-10 minutes after baking to firm up for easier slicing.
Can be prepared ahead and refrigerated before baking, add extra baking time if cold from fridge.
Fresh parsley adds color and freshness but can be omitted if unavailable.