High-Protein Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole Recipe Is Priceless (8 Ingredients) by Jan Mostrom

This pasta casserole recipe is so great that it was named Million Dollar Spaghetti! This simple pasta casserole is so easy to make and pop into the oven that it’s worth a million because it’s so cheesy and tastes wonderfully delicious and creamy.

I made this easy million dollar spaghetti casserole recipe for a friend last week. I covered it with some aluminum foil and she was able to pop it in the oven so that it was hot when she and her partner finished work. Priceless! This spaghetti casserole recipe is worth putting into your dinner rotation.

To make this cheesy high-protein pasta bake you will need spaghetti noodles, ground beef, spaghetti sauce, butter, cottage cheese, (read about the health benefits of cottage cheese), cream cheese, sour cream and sharp cheddar cheese (or your favorite cheese). The casserole ingredients are layered then baked until hot, cheesy and bubbly. 

Serve this family pleasing ground beef casserole recipe for dinner with your favorite side dishes. My friend served it with fresh green beans. I like to always have bread and you can't go wrong with a garden salad.  

Cuisine: Italian / American
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 8 ounces spaghetti noodles
• 1 pound (16 ounces) ground beef, ground turkey or ground chicken
• 16 ounces (1 jar) spaghetti sauce
• 1/2 cup butter, sliced (divided)
• 8 ounces cottage cheese
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 8 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Here's how to make it: 

1. Boil a large pot of salted water in a pot and cook spaghetti noodles getting according to package directions to al dente. Drain. (Do not overcook the spaghetti noodles or you'll have a mushy casserole.)
   
2. While the spaghetti cooks, place a large skillet on the stove on medium and cook the ground meat until browned. If there is excess grease, drain or use a paper towel to absorb.
   
3. Put the cooked meat into a mixing bowl. Add the jar of pasta sauce and mix well.
   
4. Mix cottage cheese, sour cream and cream cheese in a medium mixing bowl.
   
5. In a 13x9-inch baking dish, place half the butter, in slices, in the bottom of the pan. Layer half the noodles on top of the butter.
   
6. Spread all of the cream cheese mixture over the noodles.
   
7. Add the rest of the noodles and the other half of the butter slices.
   
8. Top the mixture with all of the remaining meat sauce.
   
9. Place the casserole in a preheated 350-degree F oven and cook for 30 minutes. Remove pan and top with the grated cheddar cheese. Return to the oven for 15 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly and warm. (Instead of cheddar cheese, you could use mozzarella, gruyere or your favorite Italian cheese blend.) Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This casserole reheats well in the microwave for dinner the next day.
   

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