If you want a make ahead comfort food, however, then Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole is just what you’re looking for. Think layers of sweet spaghetti, a thick and creamy cheese mix, meaty sauce with ground beef and finally, a topping of bubbling cheddar cheese to make it all come together. It’s a crowd-pleaser that borrows the best bits of lasagna and spaghetti, streamlined into one easy-to-make dish that’s ideal for weeknight dinners or gatherings with friends and family.
The magic happens in the creamy middle layer of cottage cheese, cream cheese and sour cream that gives every bite a rich, silky mouthfeel. Paired with a hearty, rich meat sauce and topped with bubbling, golden cheddar cheese, the casserole is both comforting and indulgent. It’s a budget-friendly dish that tastes like a million bucks, hence its title as the true “Million Dollar” casserole. Serve it hot, and see your family dive into this multilayered dish with zeal.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe:
Cheesy, Creamy Layers: This casserole is a study in rich, creamy goodness with every bite, thanks to a creamy mixture of cottage cheese, cream cheese and sour cream.
Crowd-Pleaser: This recipe yields a lot, making it good for family gatherings or meal prep.
Decadent and Hearty: This casserole is pure comfort food, with layers of pasta, meat and cheese.
Make Ahead Magic: The casserole uses day-ahead prep work, wonderful for when you’re busy.)
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Key Ingredients:
Here’s why each ingredient is essential and how to achieve the best flavor and texture.
Spaghetti: This is the best for classic spaghetti, but you could also go with other long pasta, like linguine or fettuccini.
Lean Ground Beef: The ground beef brings a savory, meaty layer to the casserole. You can also use ground turkey or sausage if you want, instead.
Spaghetti Sauce: A jar of spaghetti sauce adds tangy, herby flavor to the dish and mingles nicely with the beef.
Butter: Butter makes its way into the layers, contributing richness to the casserole and helping the pasta remain moist and flavorful.
Cottage Cheese: Cottage cheese adds creaminess and a touch of acidity that mitigates the richness of the other cheeses.
Cream Cheese: Softened cream cheese lends a rich, smooth, creamy texture to the cheese mixture, forming a decadent filling layer.
Sour Cream: Sour cream adds tang and aids in achieving a smooth, creamy filling.
Cheddar Cheese: Sharp shredded cheddar cheese sprinkled on top melts to a golden, bubbly layer and is lovely for topping this casserole.
Full recipe with amounts and instructions located down in the recipe card.
Instructions:
Step 1: Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Step 2: Cook the Spaghetti
Fill a large pot with water, add a handful of salt and bring to a boil.
Add spaghetti; cook until al dente, about 12 minutes. Drain and set aside.
Around the time the onions begin to soften, prepare the ground beef mixture (Step 3).
Brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it into small pieces until golden brown and crumbly (5–7 minutes).
Drain off the excess grease; combine the beef and spaghetti sauce. Set aside.
Step 4: Prepare the Casserole Dish
Arrange 1/2 of the butter slices in the bottom of a 9×13-inch casserole dish.
Lay half the cooked spaghetti atop the butter.
Step 5: Make the creamy cheese mixture
In a bowl or container, mix the cottage cheese, cream cheese and sour cream until smooth and incorporated.
Transfer this cheese mixture onto spaghetti layer in casserole dishtip:
Step 6: Add Remaining Layers
Top the rest of the spaghetti and cheese.
Scatter the remaining butter slices on top, spread evenly over the spaghetti.
Spread the ground beef and sauce mixture over that layer.
Step 7: Bake the Casserole
Put the casserole in the oven and bake for half an hour.
After 30 minutes, take out of the oven and top with shredded Cheddar cheese.
Return the casserole to the oven and bake for another 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and lightly browned.
Step 8: Serve and Enjoy
When done, can remove from oven and let casserole cool a few minutes.
Scoop and serve nice and hot and dig into those creamy layers and that huggable meat sauce!
Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole Recipe Tips:
Cook the Pasta to Al Dente: To prevent mushy pasta after baking, cook the spaghetti to only an al dente texture.
Use grated Cheese : Use cheese that you grated fresh, even though it takes a few extra minutes it makes a notable difference in how well it melts and is more flavorful than the type you buy pre shredded.
Cut and Layer Butter Evenly: Slicing and layering butter so that your casserole is rich and moist from edge to edge.
Cool Before Serving: Letting the casserole sit on the counter for a few minutes after it’s pulled from the oven helps it set and will make serving easier.
Variations:
You can personalize this dish further with some easy ingredient substitutions:
Ricotta Instead of Cottage Cheese: For a slightly sweeter and more creamy texture, swap out cottage cheese for ricotta in your layers.
Add Vegetables: For more flavor and nutrition, stir sautéed mushrooms, bell peppers or spinach into the meat layer.
Use Italian Sausage: For a guaranteed spicy, super flavorful version, swap out ground beef for Italian sausage.
Play With Cheeses: Mix it up by adding mozzarella or Parmesan to the cheddar for a ever-so-slightly different cheesy topping.
Storage and Reheating:
They don’t have fresh leftovers like casserole parts, Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole is perfect for such meals and defrosts really well.
Store: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Freeze: To store longer, wrap individual portions or the whole casserole in foil, then put in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 2 months. Defrost overnight in a refrigerator, then reheat.
To reheat: Individual servings can be microwaved, or the whole casserole can be reheated at 350 degrees (20 to 25 minutes) until warmed through.
Conclusion:
This Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole is a total comfort-food cheesy dream dish — it layers creamy cheese, meaty sauce and pasta for a satisfying meal that’s all about satisfaction. It’s great for family meals, meal prepping or whenever you want some classic comfort food.
Savor every ooey-gooey delicious bite of that layered casserole of perfection!
Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 (8 ounce) package spaghetti
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 (16 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
- 1/2 cup butter sliced, divided
- 1 (8 ounce) container cottage cheese
- 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese softened
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 (8 ounce) package shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) for even baking.
- In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil. Add spaghetti and cook until al dente, about 12 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook ground beef until browned and crumbly, about 5–7 minutes. Drain excess grease, then mix the beef with the spaghetti sauce and set aside.
- Place half of the butter slices in the bottom of a 9x13-inch casserole dish. Spread half of the cooked spaghetti over the butter.
- In a bowl, mix together cottage cheese, cream cheese, and sour cream until smooth and blended. Spread this cheese mixture over the spaghetti layer in the casserole dish.
- Add the remaining spaghetti over the cheese layer. Top with the remaining butter slices. Pour the ground beef and sauce mixture over this layer, spreading it out evenly.
- Place the casserole dish in the oven and bake for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven, sprinkle the top with shredded Cheddar cheese, and return to bake for an additional 15 minutes, until cheese is melted and lightly browned.
- Once done, remove from the oven and let the casserole cool for a few minutes. Scoop and serve while hot!