MILLION DOLLAR SPAGHETTI
Are you ready to step up your pasta game? This Million Dollar Baked Spaghetti combines the greatest features of classic Italian cuisine with the comforting appeal of a noteworthy American casserole.Imagine layers of perfectly cooked spaghetti, rich meat sauce, and melting cheese baked into a delectable, comforting casserole. Whether you're searching for a quick and easy weeknight supper or want to impress visitors at your next party, baked spaghetti has the adaptability and flavor to become a menu staple.
Ingredients
- 1 lb Extra Lean Ground Beef 454g
- ½ Green Bell Pepper diced
- 1 Small Yellow Onion diced
- ½ - 1 tbsp Olive Oil
- 3 Minced Garlic Cloves
- 1 ½ tbsp Salt
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 tsp Onion Powder
- ¼ tsp Black Pepper
- 23 oz Crushed Tomatoes/Strained Tomatoes 680ml
- 1 tbsp Sugar
- 1 tbsp Dried Basil
- 1 tbsp Dried Parsley plus more for garnishing
- ½ tsp Oregano
- 2 tsp Meat Seasoning
- 1 Boursin Garlic and Fine Herb Cheese
- 6 cups Water
- 8 oz Spaghetti 227g
- 2 cups Light Mozzarella 240g
Instructions
- Heat your pan on medium low and add a 1/2 - 1 tbsp of oil. Add in your onions and bell pepper and fry for about 4 minutes. Add in the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Add in your ground beef and season with 1/2 tsp salt, black pepper, garlic powder and onion powder. Mix until well combined.
- Cook your beef for 7-8 minutes or until it is no longer pink. Use a potato masher or fork to mash the beef into small pieces.
- Pour in your crushed tomatoes, sugar, and your remaining seasonings. Simmer for 25 minutes.
- In a medium pot, add 6 cups water, 1 tbsp salt and bring to a boil. Add in your pasta and cook until al dente according to the package instructions.
- After cooking, reserve some of your pasta water, drain the rest, and set the pasta aside.
- In a separate bowl, mix your Boursin cheese and 1-2 tbsp of your pasta water. Add the mixture to your pasta.
- Using a 9x13 baking dish for layering, start with roughly 1/2 - 1 cup of meat sauce, then the pasta, then the meat sauce and top with 2 cups of shredded mozzarella. *There is a lot of meat sauce compared to the amount of pasta used, so if you choose to double the pasta amount, then do two layers of your pasta and meat sauce instead of one before topping with mozzarella.
- Bake at 350°F for 25 minutes. Broil on low for 2-3 mins.
- Let rest for 10-15 minutes before serving.
- Garnish with additional parsley before serving.