Million Dollar Baked Spaghetti 🍝🧀✨
A hearty, cheesy pasta bake layered with creamy filling and savory meat sauce—comfort food at its finest.
Ingredients
- 12 oz spaghetti
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup cottage cheese or ricotta
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Directions
- Preheat oven: Set oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cook pasta: Boil spaghetti according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- Prepare meat sauce: Heat olive oil in skillet. Brown ground beef, drain fat, stir in marinara sauce.
- Mix cheese filling: In a bowl, combine cream cheese, cottage cheese (or ricotta), and sour cream until smooth.
- Layer casserole: Place half of spaghetti in greased 9×13-inch dish. Spread cheese mixture over. Add remaining spaghetti and top with meat sauce.
- Top with cheese: Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan evenly.
- Bake: Cover with foil and bake 30 minutes. Uncover and bake 10–15 minutes more until bubbly and golden.
- Rest: Let sit 10 minutes before serving.
Tips
- Extra flavor: Add Italian seasoning or red pepper flakes to the meat sauce.
- Cheese swap: Try provolone or fontina for a different cheesy layer.
- Make-ahead: Assemble casserole, cover, and refrigerate up to 24 hours before baking.
Caption & Engagement
Caption: “Million Dollar Baked Spaghetti—creamy, cheesy, and golden comfort in every bite! 🍝🧀✨”
- Comment prompt: “Would you use ricotta or cottage cheese in yours?”
- Rotating closers: “Save for your next family dinner.” • “Tag a friend who loves pasta bakes.” • “Golden top, creamy layers.”