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Baked Spaghetti: Rich Million Dollar Dinner (Print Version)

Million Dollar Baked Spaghetti Dinner is pure comfort food. Layers of rich meat sauce, tender spaghetti, and gooey cheese. A family favorite, honest and easy!

# Recipe Info:

Prep Time: 25 Minutes minutes
Cook Time: 30 Minutes minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 8 Servings
Difficulty: Intermediate
Cuisine: American
Dietary: Contains Meat, Dairy

# Ingredients:

→ Meat Sauce Essentials

01 - 1 pound spaghetti
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 pound ground beef (80/20 lean)
04 - 1 large onion, chopped
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
07 - 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
08 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
09 - 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
10 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Spaghetti & Cheese Layers

11 - 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
12 - 1/2 cup sour cream
13 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
14 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

→ Finishing Touches

15 - Fresh parsley or basil, chopped, for garnish (optional)

# Instructions:

01 - First things first, get that spaghetti boiling. Seriously, don't forget it like I did that one time! While that’s happening, heat your olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and break it up with a spoon, cooking until it's nicely browned. Drain any excess fat – we want flavor, not grease, you know? Then, toss in the chopped onion. Sauté it until it’s soft and translucent, about 5-7 minutes. Oh, the smell of onion and beef cooking together, pure magic!
02 - Now for the garlic! Add your minced garlic to the skillet and cook for just a minute until fragrant. Don't let it burn, that's a sad, bitter flavor we don't want. Pour in the crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce. Stir in the oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Bring it to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it hang out for at least 20 minutes, or even longer if you have the time. The longer it simmers, the more the flavors marry and deepen. This is where the magic happens for your Million Dollar Baked Spaghetti Dinner.
03 - While your sauce is simmering, grab a medium bowl for the creamy cheese layer. In it, combine the softened cream cheese, sour cream, and Parmesan cheese. Mix it all up until it’s smooth and well-combined. This is the secret ingredient, honestly! It makes the Million Dollar Baked Spaghetti Dinner so much richer. If your cream cheese isn't soft enough, a quick 10-15 seconds in the microwave can help, but don't melt it completely, just soften!
04 - Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grab a 9x13 inch baking dish. Drain your cooked spaghetti and toss it with half of the meat sauce – just enough to coat it, you know? Spread about half of the coated spaghetti in the bottom of your baking dish. Next, dollop spoonfuls of that creamy cream cheese mixture over the spaghetti. Don't worry about spreading it perfectly, it'll melt and spread in the oven. Top with the remaining spaghetti.
05 - Pour the remaining meat sauce evenly over the top of the spaghetti. Make sure it's all covered! Then, sprinkle that generous layer of shredded mozzarella cheese all over. I like to pile it high, because honestly, who doesn't love extra cheese? This is where your Million Dollar Baked Spaghetti Dinner gets its golden, bubbly top. Sometimes I even add a little extra Parmesan here too, just for good measure.
06 - Pop that dish into your preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and beautifully golden brown. The edges will be slightly crispy, and you'll smell all that amazing, comforting goodness filling your kitchen. Let it rest for 5-10 minutes before serving – this helps the Million Dollar Baked Spaghetti Dinner set up a bit and prevents it from being a total messy disaster when you scoop it out. Garnish with fresh parsley or basil if you're feeling fancy!

# Notes:

01 - Don't overcrowd the baking dish; it messes with the cheese melt, trust me.
02 - You can assemble this Million Dollar Baked Spaghetti Dinner a day ahead and just bake when ready.
03 - Ground turkey works surprisingly well if you want a lighter touch, I've tried it!
04 - A sprinkle of fresh basil makes this Million Dollar Baked Spaghetti Dinner sing.

# Tools You'll Need:

01 - Large skillet
02 - large pot
03 - 9x13 inch baking dish
04 - mixing bowls
05 - whisk

# Nutrition Facts (Per Serving):

Calories: 650
Total Fat: 35g
Total Carbohydrate: 55g
Protein: 30g

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