Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole**:
### Ingredients
– 1 lb ground beef
– 1 jar (24 oz) spaghetti sauce
– 8 oz cream cheese, softened
– ¼ cup sour cream
– 1 cup cottage cheese
– ½ cup butter (1 stick)
– 1 package (16 oz) spaghetti
– 1-2 cups grated cheddar cheese (or mozzarella, if preferred)
### Directions
1. **Preheat the Oven:**
– Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. **Cook the Spaghetti:**
– Boil the spaghetti noodles in a large pot of salted water until they are al dente (firm to the bite), according to package instructions.
– Drain the noodles and set them aside.
3. **Prepare the Meat Sauce:**
– In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until it’s browned and fully cooked.
– Drain any excess fat.
– Stir in the jar of spaghetti sauce, mix well, and let it simmer for a few minutes. Remove from heat.
4. **Make the Creamy Cheese Mixture:**
– In a medium mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sour cream, and cottage cheese.
– Mix until smooth and creamy.
5. **Assemble the Casserole:**
– Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with butter or non-stick spray.
– Cut the stick of butter into small pats and place half of them evenly across the bottom of the baking dish.
– Place half of the cooked spaghetti on top of the butter in the baking dish.
– Spread the creamy cheese mixture evenly over the layer of spaghetti.
– Add the remaining half of the spaghetti on top of the cheese mixture.
– Place the remaining pats of butter on top of this layer of spaghetti.
– Pour the meat sauce evenly over the top layer of spaghetti.
6. **Bake the Casserole:**
– Cover the casserole with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.
– After 30 minutes, remove the foil and sprinkle the grated cheddar cheese evenly over the top.
– Return the casserole to the oven and bake uncovered for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
7. **Serve:**
– Let the casserole cool for a few minutes before serving.
– Cut into squares and serve warm, garnished with fresh parsley or basil if desired.
Enjoy your rich and creamy Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole!