Description
Million Dollar Spaghetti is a rich and comforting layered pasta casserole made with creamy cheeses, hearty meat sauce, and spaghetti noodles. It’s an indulgent, crowd-pleasing dish that’s perfect for family dinners, potlucks, and make-ahead meals.
Ingredients
- 1 lb spaghetti noodles
- 1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara or pasta sauce
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup ricotta cheese or cottage cheese
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp butter (for greasing and flavor)
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter.
- Cook spaghetti according to package instructions. Drain and toss with 1 tbsp butter to prevent sticking.
- In a large skillet, cook ground beef with chopped onion and garlic over medium heat until browned. Drain excess grease.
- Stir in marinara sauce and let simmer for 5–10 minutes. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, mix cream cheese, ricotta (or cottage cheese), sour cream, salt, and pepper until smooth.
- Assemble casserole: Layer half of the cooked spaghetti in the baking dish, spread all of the cheese mixture on top, add the remaining spaghetti, then pour the meat sauce over everything.
- Top with shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
- Bake uncovered for 30–40 minutes until the top is golden and bubbly.
- Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Garnish with chopped parsley, if desired.
Notes
- Use a mix of ground beef and sausage for extra flavor.
- Cottage cheese is a budget-friendly substitute for ricotta.
- Add veggies like mushrooms or spinach for extra nutrition.
- Freeze before or after baking for a convenient meal later.
- Letting the casserole rest makes slicing easier and keeps the layers intact.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of recipe
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 820mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 27g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
