Description
A cozy, cheesy casserole layered with tender spaghetti, savory meat sauce, and a creamy cottage cheese mixture.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb spaghetti
- 1 lb ground beef or sausage
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
- 2 cups cottage cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and prepare a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Crack the egg into a small bowl and beat lightly.
- Cook the spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente, about 8–10 minutes. Drain and set aside. In a medium bowl, combine the cottage cheese, beaten egg, half of the mozzarella (1 cup), and half of the Parmesan (about 1/4 cup). Add salt and pepper to taste and stir until blended.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef or sausage until browned, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks, about 6–8 minutes. Add the minced garlic and onion powder, cooking for another minute until fragrant. Stir in the marinara sauce and let it simmer gently for about 5 minutes.
- Layer the casserole in the baking dish: spread half of the cooked spaghetti across the bottom, spoon and spread the cottage cheese mixture over the pasta, pour and spread the meat sauce evenly, and top with the remaining spaghetti. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan evenly over the top. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake an additional 10–15 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown. Let rest 5 minutes, garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired, then serve.
Notes
For best results, use low-moisture shredded mozzarella. Adjust seasoning as needed based on sauce taste.
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 45
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 705
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 68g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 45g
- Cholesterol: 90mg