Million Dollar Spaghetti

Ingredients

• 1 lb spaghetti, cooked one minute under
• 1 lb beef chuck, ground
• 24 oz marinara + 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 8 oz cream cheese, 1 cup cottage cheese
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 2 cups mozzarella, 1/2 cup parm

Method

Tap a step to check it off while you cook.

1. 01Brown the beef properly — dark bits are the whole point — then simmer with paste and marinara 20 minutes.
2. 02Whip cream cheese, cottage cheese and sour cream smooth and season it aggressively.
3. 03Layer: sauce, pasta, cheese mixture, pasta, sauce, mozzarella.
4. 04Bake covered at 350F for 30 minutes, uncovered 15 more, rest 10 before cutting.

The grown-up move

Season the dairy layer like a dish of its own. Bland middle is why most versions taste flat.