Description
Million Dollar Baked Spaghetti is a hearty and creamy casserole featuring layers of perfectly cooked spaghetti, a savory blend of ground beef and Italian sausage in rich spaghetti sauce, and a luscious mixture of ricotta, cream cheese, and sour cream. Topped with melted mozzarella and fresh parsley, this comforting Italian-American dish bakes to bubbly perfection and is perfect for feeding a crowd.
Ingredients
Pasta
- 16 ounces dried spaghetti
Meat and Sauce
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 45 ounces spaghetti sauce (1 large jar or 2 small jars)
Cheese Mixture
- 8 ounces ricotta cheese
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
Topping
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- Freshly chopped parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Cook Spaghetti: Boil the spaghetti noodles according to package instructions until al dente. Drain well and set aside to cool slightly.
- Prepare Meat Sauce: While the pasta cooks, brown the ground beef and Italian sausage over medium heat in a skillet until thoroughly cooked. Drain excess fat. Stir in the spaghetti sauce and heat through, then remove from heat.
- Make Cheese Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, softened cream cheese, sour cream, and Italian seasoning. Mix thoroughly until smooth and creamy.
- Assemble Casserole: Preheat the oven to 375˚F. Spread a thin layer of the meat sauce on the bottom of a 9x13-inch casserole dish. Layer half of the cooked spaghetti noodles evenly over the sauce. Spread half of the meat sauce over the noodles, followed by half of the cheese mixture, and then half of the shredded mozzarella. Repeat with the remaining spaghetti, meat sauce, cheese mixture, and mozzarella to create a second layer.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the edges are bubbly and the dish is heated through.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven and sprinkle freshly chopped parsley over the top. Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- For best results, use lean ground beef to reduce excess grease in the casserole.
- You can substitute Italian sausage with mild or spicy according to your preference.
- Allow the baked spaghetti to rest for 5 minutes before serving to help it set.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- For a lower-fat version, substitute part of the ricotta with low-fat cottage cheese and use reduced-fat mozzarella.
