Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole Recipe

Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole Recipe

Ingredients:

For the Spaghetti:

• 2 lbs spaghetti
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• Salt, to taste

For the Meat Sauce:

• 2 lbs ground beef (or a mix of beef and Italian sausage)
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 (24 oz) jars marinara sauce (or 4 cups homemade tomato sauce)
• 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
• 1 can (15 oz) tomato paste
• 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• Salt and pepper, to taste

For the Cheese Mixture:

• 2 cups ricotta cheese
• 2 cups sour cream
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

For Assembly:

• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (for topping)
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (for topping)
• Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish, optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat Oven and Cook Spaghetti:

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
• Cook the spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and toss with olive oil to prevent sticking. Set aside.

1. Prepare the Meat Sauce:

• In a large skillet or pot, cook the ground beef (and sausage, if using) over medium heat until browned. Drain excess fat.
• Add the chopped onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute.
• Add the marinara sauce, tomato sauce, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Simmer for about 20 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.

1. Make the Cheese Mixture:

• In a large bowl, mix together the ricotta cheese, sour cream, egg, grated Parmesan cheese, and 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese. Stir until well combined.

1. Assemble the Casserole:

• In a large baking dish (about 9×13 inches or larger), spread a layer of the cooked spaghetti.
• Top the spaghetti with a layer of the meat sauce.
• Spread the cheese mixture over the meat sauce.
• Repeat the layers if you have enough ingredients (usually 2 layers of each).

1. Add Toppings:

• Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese and 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese over the top.

1. Bake:

• Cover the casserole with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.
• Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.

1. Cool and Serve:

• Let the casserole cool for about 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley, if desired.

Enjoy your delicious Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole!