MILLION DOLLAR SPAGHETTI SQUASH CASSEROLE
If you don’t know what million-dollar spaghetti casserole is then you have to try this recipe asap. It’s all that decadent goodness but like 1000 less carbs and filled with protein. It is a healthy, good for you, but has that same naughty taste...except this one won’t leave you wanting to unbutton your pants. Ya know?
This serving size is for a 9x9 dish!
Ingredients:
1 medium spaghetti squash
Meat sauce: (you will have extra left over for later in week)
1 lb ground beef
Salt and pepper
½ onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups marinara, @raos is our favorite
1 tbsp Italian seasoning
Cheese filling:
½ cup cream cheese
½ cup cottage cheese
½ cup parmesan cheese, grated
Salt and pepper, to season
2 tbsp basil, chopped (more for topping)
1 cup mozzarella, shredded
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 9 x 9 casserole dish with olive oil spray.
2. Poke holes in your spaghetti squash with a large sturdy knife. Make sure you puncture through the skin so it does not explode in microwave 😊
3. Place spaghetti squash in microwave on high for 8-10 minutes, rotating half -way through.
4. While spaghetti squash is cooking, make meat sauce.
5. Let skillet get hot over medium high. Add some olive oil. Brown beef in skillet. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from skillet.
6. Add diced onions and garlic to same skillet and cook until translucent. Add back beef, marinara sauce, and Italian seasoning. Stir until well combined. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed. Remove from heat.
7. When squash can be easily punctured with a knife, remove from microwave. Cut squash in half with large knife and let cool completely.
8. Once cooled, remove seeds and soft part from insides. Next, shred the rest of the spaghetti squash from the skin.
9. Place all squash in a large tea towel and ring out about HALF of the water from squash. **This step will help reduce a lot of liquid from casserole. You will want a slightly drier consistency but there will still be water content. Do not worry about squeezing it all out! Set aside.
10. Make cheese layer: Combine cream cheese, cottage cheese, parmesan cheese, salt/pepper, and basil. Stir until well combined.
11. Assemble: Lay down all squash on the bottom of casserole dish for the first layer. Next, spoon all of cheese mixture over squash and spread into an even layer. Top cheese layer with a layer of meat sauce. **Note there will be extra meat sauce. Just use enough to cover the cheese sauce (you can use as much or as little as you want). Finally, sprinkle mozzarella cheese over meat sauce.
12. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 min or until cheese is bubbling.
13. Let cool slightly. Top with fresh chopped basil.
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