Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole

Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole is an easy weeknight meal everyone will love. Filled with ground beef, Italian sausage, pasta, tomato sauce, and cheese makes a hearty and delicious meal.

My Million Dollar Spaghetti casserole is a perfect hearty meal that my family loves. It is almost like a combination of baked spaghetti and lasagna.

This meal is budget-friendly, and makes a lot of food. The leftovers are amazing as well, and perfect for lunch the following day.

The sauce is made with jarred pasta sauce, ground beef, and Italian sausage. It is so flavorful and yummy. The casserole comes together super fast with a bed of cooked spaghetti, topped with a mixture of cottage cheese, sour cream, and mozzarella. Add the pasta sauce on top, a little more cheese, and pop it in the oven.

Ingredients

• Italian Sausage- I like to use a mild Italian sausage
• Lean ground beef- Ground turkey or a 50/50 mixture can be used in place of the beef.
• Pasta sauce - I use a simple jarred marinara sauce for my Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole.
• Cottage cheese - I suggest 4% or 2% milk-fat cottage cheese.
• Cream cheese - I like to use regular cream cheese, but light woks as well.
• Sour cream - I like the flavor of regular sour cream versus light, but you could also use Greek yogurt.
• Dried parsley
• Garlic powder
• Spaghetti- Thin spaghetti works well too, but I do not recommend a thinner pasta.
• Mozzarella cheese
• Grated parmesan

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
3. In a large skillet meat. Drain fat from skillet. Stir in pasta sauce. Simmer 7-10 minutes. Set aside.
4. In a large bowl, combine cottage cheese, softened cream cheese, sour cream, parsley and garlic powder.
5. In a lightly sprayed 9x13-inch pan, add cooked pasta in the bottom of the dish. Spread cream cheese mixture over noodles. Pour meat sauce over noodles and top with mozzarella cheese and parmesan.
6. Bake uncovered for 45 minutes. Allow to cool for 10-15 minutes before serving.

Frequesntly Asked Questions

Can I use ricotta cheese?

Yes, substitute it for the cottage cheese on a 1:1 ratio.

Can I use penne pasta?

Yes, other shaped pastas like rigatoni or fusilli work as well.

Can I omit the Italian sausage?

Yes, the flavor will slightly change, but you do not have to use it. I would sub in additional ground beef.

Can I make Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole in advance?

Yes, I suggest making it no more than 24 hours in advance. Keep it covered and stored in the fridge. Once cooked the casserole is will last 3-5 days covered in the fridge.

Can I freeze this casserole?

Yes! I like to use a disposable baking dish when I plan to freeze this casserole. After it is assembled, wrap it in plastic wrap followed by a layer of foil.

What should I serve with this recipe?

I always serve with garlic bread and a garden or Caesar salad.

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Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 1 hr

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 6 people

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 lb Italian Sausage
• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 24 oz jar pasta sauce
• 1 cup cottage cheese
• 8 oz cream cheese softened
• ½ cup sour cream
• 2 tablespoon dried parsley
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 lb spaghetti
• 2 cups mozzarella cheese
• 2 tablespoon grated parmesan

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
• In a large skillet meat. Drain fat from skillet. Stir in pasta sauce. Simmer 7-10 minutes. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine cottage cheese, softened cream cheese, sour cream, parsley and garlic powder.
• In a lightly sprayed 9x13-inch pan, add cooked pasta in the bottom of the dish. Spread cream cheese mixture over noodles. Pour meat sauce over noodles and top with mozzarella cheese and parmesan.
• Bake uncovered for 45 minutes. Allow to cool for 10-15 minutes before serving.

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This recipe was originally published in 2014 and was updated in 2021 for reader enhancement and enjoyment.