When your day doesn't go as planned, but you still need dinner, you can always make spaghetti. When you have carved out enough time out of your day to prepare a meal for your family, but then a friend calls and took up that time, you can always make spaghetti. Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole is an easy hearty casserole that is both budget-friendly and easy to make.

Ingredients of Million Dollar Spaghetti

  1. You need 16 ounce of spaghetti noodles.
  2. It's 1/2 pound of ground beef.
  3. You need 1/2 pound of ground Italian sausage.
  4. Prepare to taste of salt and pepper -.
  5. Prepare 1 of small onion, chopped.
  6. It's 2 clove of garlic, minced.
  7. Prepare 24 ounce of jar marinara pasta sauce.
  8. You need 3 Tablespoons of butter.
  9. You need 8 ounce of cream cheese, softened.
  10. Prepare 1/4 cup of sour cream.
  11. Prepare 1 cup of cottage cheese.
  12. Prepare 2 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese.
  13. It's 2/3 cup of freshly grated parmesan cheese.
  14. Prepare of fresh parsley leaves for garnish (optional).

Million Dollar Spaghetti step by step

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. In a large skillet cook and crumble the ground beef and Italian sausage and season with salt and pepper. Remove most of the grease..
  3. Add onions and garlic and cook for a few minutes until onion is translucent.
  4. Add all but 1/2 cup of the marinara saurce (reserve 1/2 cup for the noodles) to the mixture and stir to combine. Set aside.
  5. Cook Spahetti according to package instructions, just until "al dente".
  6. Place hot spaghetti in a large mixing bowl with butter and 1/2 cup marinara sauce and toss to combine. Pour half of the pasta into a 9x13" pan..
  7. Combine cream cheese, source cream and cottage cheese in a bowl and mix well. Smooth over noodles in chees and parmesan cheese..
  8. Top with remaining noodles. Add meat mixture on top and smooth into an even layer. Top with mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese..
  9. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Check it around 20 minutes and if the cheese is browning too quickly, place a piece of tin foil over it..
  10. Wait until 10-15 minutes before cutting and serving. Enjoy.
  11. Optional - double or triple the recipe, and freeze the extra pans for easy meals on busy days..

Growing up in the midwest, casseroles are a part of our way of life. Add in the fact that I am Lutheran, and you'll find casseroles at every funeral and holiday at church. Baked Million Dollar Spaghetti is a hit in our house every time we make it and it isn't hard to see why. With melted cheese, cream cheese, meat and homemade marinara sauce, and perfect as a make ahead meal you can freeze, this dish is a perfect meal in a pan and even better served with a nice side salad. It is delicious with a tossed salad and crusty garlic bread.

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