Description

Million Dollar Spaghetti is a delicious and hearty baked spaghetti casserole featuring whole wheat pasta, savory ground turkey or chicken, a flavorful blend of Italian spices, and a rich, cheesy mixture. This comforting dish is perfect for a family dinner and offers a wholesome twist on traditional spaghetti with a creamy cottage cheese and parmesan layer baked to golden perfection.

Ingredients

Units Scale

Pasta and Sauce

10 ounces whole wheat spaghetti
28 ounces pasta sauce

Meat and Seasonings

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound ground turkey or chicken
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
Salt and pepper to taste

Cheese Mixture

8 ounces cottage cheese
1/2 cup ground parmesan cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

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Instructions

Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the casserole.
Cook Spaghetti: Boil the whole wheat spaghetti according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta well and return it to the pot. Stir in the pasta sauce until the noodles are evenly coated.
Sauté Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the finely diced onion and minced garlic and sauté for about 5 minutes until softened and fragrant.
Cook Meat: Add the ground turkey or chicken to the skillet, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Cook until no longer pink.
Season Meat: Sprinkle Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper over the meat. Continue cooking until the meat just starts to brown to develop flavor.
Prepare Cheese Mixture: In a bowl, whisk together the cottage cheese, ground parmesan cheese, and half (1 cup) of the shredded mozzarella cheese until smooth.
Assemble Casserole: In a rectangular baking dish, spread half of the sauced spaghetti. Layer half of the cheese mixture evenly over the pasta, followed by half of the cooked meat. Repeat the layers with the remaining spaghetti, cheese mixture, and meat. Top the casserole with the remaining 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese.
Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 35–45 minutes or until the dish is bubbly and the cheese on top is golden and melted.
Serve: Remove from the oven and let it cool slightly before serving. Enjoy your cheesy, flavorful Million Dollar Spaghetti!

Notes

Store leftovers in an airtight container or cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap; refrigerate for up to 5 days.
You can substitute any type of pasta such as gluten-free, whole grain, lentil, or chickpea pasta to suit dietary needs.
Use your preferred pasta sauce for variation in flavor.
If you prefer, lean ground beef can be used instead of ground turkey or chicken.
Reheating instructions: Microwave leftovers for 2-3 minutes until heated through. If reheating from frozen, thaw overnight in the fridge first. Alternatively, reheat in a 325°F oven covered with foil for about 10 minutes.