Million Dollar Spaghetti Bake with Creamy Layers & Cheddar Crust
Rich, indulgent, and outrageously comforting—this Million Dollar Spaghetti is a baked pasta masterpiece that lives up to its name. With layers of tender spaghetti, savory meat sauce, and a velvety trio of cottage cheese, cream cheese, and sour cream, all topped with melty cheddar, it’s a crowd-pleaser that’s perfect for weeknights or feeding a hungry group.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
Ingredients
• 1 lb spaghetti
• 2 lbs lean ground beef
• 2 (16 oz) jars spaghetti sauce (or your favorite marinara)
• 1 cup butter, sliced and divided
• 2 (8 oz) containers cottage cheese
• 2 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, softened
• ½ cup sour cream
• 2 (8 oz) packages shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
• Optional twist: 1 tsp garlic powder + 1 tsp Italian seasoning (mixed into the meat sauce)
• Optional: Fresh parsley or red pepper flakes for garnish
Instructions
Cook Spaghetti: Cook spaghetti in salted water until just al dente. Drain and toss with half the butter.
Make the Sauce: In a skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef until browned. Drain fat. Stir in spaghetti sauce, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Simmer for 10 minutes.
Make the Cheese Layer: In a bowl, combine cottage cheese, cream cheese, and sour cream until smooth.
Layer the Casserole:
– Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
– Spread half the remaining butter slices in the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.
– Layer half the spaghetti, then spread all the cheese mixture evenly on top.
– Add the rest of the spaghetti and dot with remaining butter.
– Pour the meat sauce over everything and spread evenly.
– Top with shredded cheddar cheese.
Bake: Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for another 15–20 minutes until bubbly and golden.
Rest & Serve: Let rest 10 minutes before slicing. Garnish with parsley or pepper flakes if desired.
Nutrition
- Calories: 490
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 28g