Recipe Details

• Author: deesviral
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
• Yield: 8 servings
• Category: Dinner / Casserole
• Cuisine: American / Italian-Inspired
• Keywords: million dollar spaghetti, baked spaghetti, pasta casserole, deesviral

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 jar spaghetti sauce
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1 cup cottage cheese
• 1/2 cup butter (1 stick), sliced
• 1 package (16 oz) spaghetti
• Grated cheddar cheese, to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Cook spaghetti according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
3. In a bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, and cottage cheese until smooth and well blended.
4. In a skillet, brown ground beef over medium heat. Drain excess grease, then stir in spaghetti sauce.
5. Place a few slices of butter in the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.
6. Add half of the cooked spaghetti on top of the butter.
7. Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the spaghetti.
8. Add the remaining spaghetti on top, then place a few more slices of butter over it.
9. Pour the meat sauce evenly over the top layer.
10. Bake for 30 minutes.
11. Remove from oven, sprinkle grated cheddar cheese over the top, and return to the oven.
12. Bake an additional 15 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly.
13. Let rest a few minutes before serving.

Tips & Variations

• Use mozzarella or a blend of cheeses for a more classic Italian flavor.
• Add Italian seasoning or garlic powder to the meat sauce for extra depth.
• Swap ground beef for ground turkey or sausage for a different twist.

Why This Recipe Works

The layered structure creates the perfect balance of creamy, cheesy, and savory flavors. Butter adds richness, while the cream cheese mixture gives a velvety texture that pairs perfectly with the hearty meat sauce and pasta.