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Million Dollar Spaghetti

Million dollar spaghetti is the perfect combination of noodles, lean ground beef sauce, cottage cheese, cream cheese, and sour cream. It's unbelievably good!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course lunch/dinner
Cuisine American
Servings 8 people
Calories 5078 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Large Pot For cooking spaghetti
  • 1 Large Skillet For browning ground beef
  • 1 9x13 inch Casserole Dish For baking
  • 2 Mixing Bowls One for beef mixture, one for cheese mixture
  • 1 Spatula or Spoon For stirring and spreading

Ingredients
  

Main

  • 1 8 ounce package spaghetti
  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 16 ounce jar spaghetti sauce
  • ½ cup butter sliced - divided
  • 1 8 ounce container cottage cheese
  • 1 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
  • ¼ cup sour cream
  • 1 8 ounce package shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

Instructions
 

  • Gather all ingredients and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti in boiling water until cooked through but firm to the bite, about 8 to 12 minutes. Drain. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • While the pasta is cooking, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir beef in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes; drain and discard grease. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Transfer to a bowl and mix in spaghetti sauce. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Place 1/2 of the butter slices into the bottom of a 9x13-inch casserole dish. Spread 1/2 of the spaghetti into the dish. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Mix cottage cheese, cream cheese, and sour cream together in a bowl; spread mixture over spaghetti. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Cover with remaining spaghetti and top with remaining slices of butter. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Pour ground beef mixture over spaghetti and spread in an even layer. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Spread Cheddar cheese on top and continue baking until cheese has melted and is lightly browned, about 15 minutes more. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Enjoy! Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Notes

For a richer flavor, ensure the ground beef is well-browned and seasoned before adding the sauce. Consider elevating the store-bought spaghetti sauce with fresh herbs like basil and oregano, a pinch of red pepper flakes, or a splash of red wine during simmering. Ensure cream cheese is at room temperature for a smoother, lump-free mixture. For the final cheese topping, freshly shredding sharp Cheddar will melt more evenly and provide superior flavor compared to pre-shredded. A mix of cheeses, like adding some mozzarella for stretch, could also enhance the dish. Garnish with fresh parsley or basil for a pop of color before serving.