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Hi! Welcome to Simmer and Smile with Jess!
Today, I'm whipping up a family favorite: Million Dollar Spaghetti. Tomorrow, we're having a late Valentine's Day celebration with my brother-in-law, his wife, my mother-in-law, and their two kids, along with my husband. It's a full house, and what better way to celebrate than with a hearty, cheesy spaghetti bake?
Let's go over some ingredients and equipment first...
You’ll need:
1 pound of sweet Italian sausage (hot or mild if you prefer)
1 pound of ground beef (I use 93% lean)
1 onion
Some garlic (I use pre-chopped because I'm lazy)
Basil (pre-chopped because convenience is key)
Ricotta cheese (or should I say "ri-COT-ta"?)
Mozzarella cheese
Cream cheese (8 to 16 oz, because more cheese = more love)
Olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, Italian seasoning
Spaghetti noodles (or any pasta you prefer)
Marinara sauce (Rao’s is my go-to, but any will do)
First, let's chop up this onion...
Grab a nice sharp knife and your trusty cutting board. Dice up that onion and get ready for the tears. Just remember, it's all for the deliciousness to come.
Sauté time!
Heat up a tablespoon of olive oil in a thick-bottomed sauté pan. Toss in your chopped onion and let it get cozy in the pan. Add in a couple of tablespoons of garlic because, let’s face it, garlic makes everything better.
Meet the meats...
Add your ground beef and sweet Italian sausage to the pan. Use your favorite ground beef crumbler (mine’s a nifty gray thingamajig) to break it all up. Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Once browned, pour in a jar and a half of marinara sauce. Let those flavors meld together in a saucy symphony.
Cheese, please!
In a mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, ricotta cheese, mozzarella, and your favorite Italian blend. Add some garlic powder, salt, and pepper for good measure. This is the creamy, dreamy layer that makes this spaghetti truly million-dollar-worthy.
Layer it up!
Oil a baking dish and start with a layer of cooked spaghetti noodles. Spread half of the cheese mixture over the noodles. Top with the meat and sauce mixture, then repeat with another layer of noodles and the remaining cheese. Finally, sprinkle a generous amount of mozzarella on top.
Bake to perfection...
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Place your masterpiece on a rimmed baking sheet (to catch any cheesy overflow) and bake until bubbly and golden, about 30 minutes. Your kitchen will smell like an Italian restaurant in no time.
Let's not forget the focaccia bread...
I made some focaccia bread with my sourdough starter discard. This bread is the perfect sidekick to our spaghetti bake. After letting it rise and get all fluffy, I dimpled it with my fingers, added some olives and rosemary, and baked it to golden perfection.
A beautiful Mediterranean salad on the side...
My sister-in-law Debbie made a gorgeous Mediterranean salad. It has Romaine lettuce, grape tomatoes, sliced red onion, black olives, and crumbled feta cheese. It’s the perfect fresh complement to our rich and hearty spaghetti bake.
Time to feast...
We’ve got our Million Dollar Spaghetti, focaccia bread, and Mediterranean salad ready to go. Plates are being filled, mouths are watering, and the family is gathering around the table. It's moments like these that make all the prep and cooking worthwhile.
But wait, there's more...
Now comes the part we all dread: the dishes. But hey, it's all part of the fun, right? Plus, knowing that our loved ones enjoyed a delicious meal makes it all worth it.
Thanks for being here with me for Simmer and Smile with Jess.
I hope you enjoyed this recipe! Don't forget to check out the description below for the full recipe and links to other videos. Please like and subscribe, and if you try this recipe, leave your thoughts and suggestions in the comments. Have a wonderful day, and keep simmering and smiling. Bye, everybody!
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