Description
Million dollar spaghetti bake brings comfort and flavor to pasta night with rich layers of cheese and meat sauce. Hearty casseroles like this one guarantee smiles around the dinner table for hungry families looking for satisfying meals.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) lean ground beef
- 1 (8 oz/226 g) package spaghetti
- 1 (16 oz/454 g) jar spaghetti sauce
- 1 (8 oz/226 g) container cottage cheese
- 1 (8 oz/226 g) package softened cream cheese
- 1 (8 oz/226 g) package shredded sharp cheddar
- ¼ cup (60 ml) sour cream
- ¼ cup (57 g) butter (divided into slices)
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and boil a large pot of salted water for spaghetti.
- Pasta Preparation: Cook spaghetti until al dente, drain, and set aside while maintaining its perfect texture.
- Meat Sauce Creation: Brown ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat, crumbling thoroughly, then blend with spaghetti sauce to create a robust meat mixture.
- Cheese Layer Development: Whip cream cheese with cottage cheese or ricotta until silky smooth, creating a luxurious binding layer.
- Casserole Assembly: Generously butter a 9×13 inch baking dish, then strategically layer half the spaghetti, spread the entire cream cheese mixture evenly, top with remaining spaghetti, and dot with additional butter pieces.
- Sauce Application: Cascade the prepared meat sauce across the entire casserole surface, ensuring complete coverage.
- Baking Process: Slide the casserole into the preheated oven, baking for 30 minutes until edges become bubbly and golden.
- Cheese Finalization: Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the top and return to oven for an additional 15 minutes until cheese melts perfectly.
- Serving Preparation: Rest the casserole for 5-7 minutes after removing from oven, allowing flavors to meld and casserole to set before serving.
Notes
- Optimize Pasta Texture: Cook spaghetti just until al dente to prevent mushiness, ensuring a perfect bite that holds up during baking.
- Enhance Meat Flavor: Brown ground beef thoroughly, breaking into small crumbles to develop deep, rich flavor and prevent raw meat texture.
- Cheese Mixture Tip: Soften cream cheese completely before mixing to create a smooth, lump-free base that blends seamlessly with cottage cheese.
- Prevent Sticking: Generously butter the baking dish to ensure easy serving and add an extra layer of rich, golden flavor to the casserole.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking, Boiling, Sautéing, Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 430
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 21 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg