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Baked Million Dollar Spaghetti




Source of Recipe


http://dinnerthendessert.com/baked-million-dollar-spaghetti/






Recipe Introduction


Baked Million Dollar Spaghetti great to eat now or make ahead and bake when ready.





List of Ingredients



• 1 pound spaghetti, cooked two minutes shy of directions and drained
  
• 1 pound ground beef
  
• 1 medium onion, chopped
  
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
  
• kosher salt and pepper to taste ( 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper)
  
• 6 cups "QUICK AND EASY MARINARA SAUCE"
  
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  
• 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  
• parsley, chopped (optional as garnish)
  






Instructions



1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
   
2. In a large skillet add the beef, onions, garlic, salt and pepper into the pan and cook on high.
   
3. Once, browned, turn off the heat, drain the liquid left in the pan and mix in one cup of the marinara sauce.
   
4. Add the cooked spaghetti to the remaining 5 cups of the marinara sauce and toss to combine.
   
5. Mix the cream cheese and 2 cups of mozzarella cheese in a bowl.
   
6. Add half the pasta/sauce to the bottom of a 9x13 pan.
   
7. Add the cream cheese mixture and top the remaining pasta/sauce mixture.
   
8. Add the meat sauce mixture on top of the pasta and top with remaining cup of mozzarella cheese.
   
9. Cover and bake for 30 minutes.
   
10. Uncover and bake for an additional 10 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
    






Final Comments


For making ahead the only difference in the directions would be to follow all the steps until it says to put it in the oven. At that point, top with foil and freeze. To serve I highly recommend you remove from the freezer the day before you plan on serving so it can defrost in the fridge. If you don’t remember to remove it, you can expect your cook time to be about an hour long at least.

Good substitutions include mixing meat half and half of beef and sausage.