Million Dollar Spaghetti Bake
Million dollar spaghetti: bake this comforting casserole with layers of pasta, rich sausage, and gooey cheese. An easy, satisfying family dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 pound spaghetti
- 4 eggs
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 4 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup whole milk cottage cheese
- 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
- 1 pound ground spicy Italian sausage
- 3 cups marinara sauce, homemade or store-bought
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook spaghetti until al dente. Drain well.
- In a medium bowl, whisk eggs, parsley, and Parmesan. Add butter and egg mixture to hot spaghetti; toss quickly to coat.
- Stir in cottage cheese and cream cheese until combined. Transfer the spaghetti mixture to the prepared baking dish.
- In a large skillet, brown ground spicy Italian sausage over medium heat for 5-8 minutes. Drain excess fat.
- Stir marinara sauce into the cooked sausage. Spread this mixture evenly over the spaghetti in the baking dish.
- Top with an even layer of shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Bake for 30-45 minutes, or until cheese is melted and lightly browned. Cool for 5 minutes before serving.
- Serve with extra Parmesan and fresh basil, if desired.
Notes
- For optimal flavor, use good quality marinara sauce or make your own from scratch. The sauce is a key component to this million dollar spaghetti.
- When browning the Italian sausage, ensure it's cooked through to an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C) before combining with the marinara.
- To prevent the pasta from sticking and to ensure it absorbs the creamy cheese mixture effectively, cook your spaghetti al dente. This also prevents it from becoming mushy during baking.
- Leftovers of million dollar spaghetti can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat in the oven at 350°F for about 15-20 minutes until warmed through, or microwave individual portions. Nutrition information is an estimate, calculated automatically. Values vary with brands, substitutions and portion sizes.
- When browning the Italian sausage, ensure it's cooked through to an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C) before combining with the marinara.
- To prevent the pasta from sticking and to ensure it absorbs the creamy cheese mixture effectively, cook your spaghetti al dente. This also prevents it from becoming mushy during baking.
- Leftovers of million dollar spaghetti can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat in the oven at 350°F for about 15-20 minutes until warmed through, or microwave individual portions. Nutrition information is an estimate, calculated automatically. Values vary with brands, substitutions and portion sizes.