Description

Million Dollar Spaghetti is a hearty and comforting baked pasta dish featuring whole wheat spaghetti layered with a flavorful ground turkey and onion mixture, creamy cottage and parmesan cheese blend, all topped with melted mozzarella. This recipe combines wholesome ingredients with Italian-inspired seasonings for a delicious, family-friendly casserole that’s perfect for weeknight dinners or meal prepping.

Ingredients

Units Scale

Spaghetti and Sauce

10 ounces whole wheat spaghetti
28 ounces pasta sauce

Meat and Sauté

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 Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F to prepare for baking the casserole.
Cook Spaghetti: Boil the whole wheat spaghetti according to package instructions until just al dente. Drain the pasta well and return it to the pot. Stir in the pasta sauce thoroughly to coat the spaghetti.
Sauté Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and minced garlic, cooking for about 5 minutes until softened and fragrant.
Cook Meat: Add the ground turkey or chicken to the skillet with the sautéed onions and garlic. Use a wooden spoon to break up the meat and cook until no longer pink.
Season Meat: Sprinkle Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper over the cooked meat mixture. Continue cooking until the meat begins to brown, enhancing flavor.
Prepare Cheese Mixture: In a bowl, whisk together cottage cheese, ground parmesan cheese, and half of the shredded mozzarella (1 cup) until well combined.
Assemble Casserole: Spread half of the spaghetti mixture evenly in a rectangular baking dish. Layer half of the cheese mixture on top, followed by half of the cooked meat mixture. Repeat the layers, then sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded mozzarella over the top.
Bake: Place the assembled casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 35-45 minutes, or until the top is bubbly and golden brown.
Serve: Remove from the oven, let it cool slightly, then serve and enjoy your comforting Million Dollar Spaghetti.

Notes

Store leftovers in an airtight container or cover the baking dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 5 days.
You can substitute the whole wheat spaghetti with any pasta, such as gluten-free, whole grain, lentil, or chickpea pasta.
Use your favorite pasta sauce to customize the flavor.
If preferred, lean ground beef can replace ground turkey or chicken.
Reheat leftovers in the microwave for 2-3 minutes or in the oven at 325°F covered with foil for about 10 minutes until heated through. Thaw frozen leftovers overnight in the fridge before reheating.