Creamy, cheesy, and packed with savory beef and tomato sauce, this Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole combines baked spaghetti with a rich cream cheese filling and a bubbling cheddar topping for an easy family-style comfort food dinner.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Uses the original recipe formula and method.
- Easy to follow with straightforward ingredients.
- Works well for the serving size and timing listed in the recipe card.
Ingredient Notes
- 8 ounce package dry spaghetti: 1
- lean ground beef: 1 pound
- 16 ounce jar spaghetti sauce: 1
- butter: ½ cup — sliced and divided
- 8 ounce container cottage cheese: 1
How to Make Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Step 2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti until just al dente. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
Step 3. Meanwhile, brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it into crumbles as it cooks. Drain off the excess grease.
Step 4. Stir the spaghetti sauce into the cooked beef. Remove from the heat and set aside.
Step 5. In a separate bowl, combine the cottage cheese, softened cream cheese, and sour cream. Stir until creamy and well blended.
Step 6. Arrange half of the butter slices across the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.
Step 7. Spread half of the cooked spaghetti over the butter.
Step 8. Spoon the cream cheese mixture over the pasta and gently spread it into an even layer.
Step 9. Add the remaining spaghetti, followed by the rest of the butter slices.
Step 10. Spread the beef and spaghetti sauce mixture evenly over the noodles.
Step 11. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes.
Step 12. Remove the casserole from the oven and sprinkle the shredded cheddar evenly over the top.
Step 13. Return it to the oven and bake for another 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the casserole is bubbling around the edges.
Step 14. Allow the casserole to rest for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 8 ounce package dry spaghetti
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 16 ounce jar spaghetti sauce
- ½ cup butter sliced and divided
- 1 8 ounce container cottage cheese
- 1 8 ounce package cream cheese, completely softened
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1 8 ounce package shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti until just al dente. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
- Meanwhile, brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it into crumbles as it cooks. Drain off the excess grease.
- Stir the spaghetti sauce into the cooked beef. Remove from the heat and set aside.
- In a separate bowl, combine the cottage cheese, softened cream cheese, and sour cream. Stir until creamy and well blended.
- Arrange half of the butter slices across the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Spread half of the cooked spaghetti over the butter.
- Spoon the cream cheese mixture over the pasta and gently spread it into an even layer.
- Add the remaining spaghetti, followed by the rest of the butter slices.
- Spread the beef and spaghetti sauce mixture evenly over the noodles.
- Bake uncovered for 30 minutes.
- Remove the casserole from the oven and sprinkle the shredded cheddar evenly over the top.
- Return it to the oven and bake for another 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the casserole is bubbling around the edges.
- Allow the casserole to rest for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
