Prep time: 15 mins | Cook time: 40 mins | Servings: 8
Ingredients
- The Pasta: 16 oz spaghetti noodles.
- The Meat Sauce:
- 1.5 lbs ground beef or Italian sausage.
- 1 jar (24 oz) of your favorite marinara sauce.
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder and 1 tsp Italian seasoning.
- The “Million Dollar” Creamy Layer:
- 8 oz cream cheese (softened).
- 1 cup cottage cheese or ricotta cheese.
- 1/4 cup sour cream.
- The Topping: 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese and fresh parsley for garnish.
Instructions
- Boil: Cook the spaghetti in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Brown: In a large skillet, brown the ground beef until no longer pink. Drain the grease, then stir in the marinara sauce and seasonings. Let it simmer for 5 minutes.
- Mix the Creamy Layer: In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, cottage cheese (or ricotta), and sour cream until smooth.
- Layer:
- Spread half of the cooked spaghetti in a greased 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Spread the creamy cheese mixture evenly over the noodles.
- Top with the remaining spaghetti.
- Pour the meat sauce over the top, spreading it to the edges.
- Bake: Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Bake at 350°F for 30–40 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and starting to brown.
- Garnish: Sprinkle with fresh parsley before serving.