Description

Million Dollar Spaghetti is a rich and creamy baked spaghetti casserole that combines ground beef, Italian sausage, marinara sauce, and a luscious blend of cream cheese, ricotta, and sour cream. Topped with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, this comforting dish is perfect for family dinners or make-ahead meals, delivering all the flavors of lasagna in a simpler and faster way.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta

1 pound spaghetti
2 tablespoons butter (for tossing cooked pasta)

Meat Sauce

1 pound ground beef
½ pound Italian sausage (optional, or use all ground beef)
1 small onion (finely chopped)
3 cloves garlic (minced)
24 ounces marinara sauce (1 jar)
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Salt and pepper (to taste)

Cheese Mixture

8 ounces cream cheese (softened)
1 cup ricotta cheese (or cottage cheese)
1 cup sour cream
½ cup Parmesan cheese (grated)

Topping

2 cups mozzarella cheese (shredded)

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Instructions

Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prepare it for baking.
Cook Spaghetti: Boil salted water and cook the spaghetti until al dente following package instructions. Drain and immediately toss with butter to prevent sticking. Set aside.
Prepare Meat Sauce: In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef and Italian sausage until no longer pink. Drain off excess fat. Add the chopped onion and cook for 3 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook for another minute to release flavors.
Add Sauce and Simmer: Pour in the marinara sauce, sprinkle Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer gently for 5 to 7 minutes to blend flavors, then taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
Mix Cheese Filling: In a mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, ricotta (or cottage cheese), sour cream, and grated Parmesan. Stir until smooth and creamy.
Combine Spaghetti and Meat Sauce: Take about one cup of meat sauce and mix it thoroughly with the cooked spaghetti. This adds flavor to the noodles before layering.
Layer the Casserole: Spread half of the spaghetti mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish. Layer the cheese mixture over the spaghetti, spreading it evenly. Add the remaining spaghetti on top of the cheese layer.
Top with Meat Sauce and Cheese: Pour the remaining meat sauce evenly over the top spaghetti layer. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella evenly over the casserole to create a cheesy crust.
Bake: Cover the dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Then remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden.
Rest and Serve: Allow the casserole to rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve warm, ideally with garlic bread and a side salad for a full meal experience.

Notes

Million Dollar Spaghetti is a comforting baked pasta casserole that is creamy, cheesy, and packed with flavor—like an easier, richer lasagna.
This dish is great for busy weeknights, family dinners, or as a make-ahead freezer meal.
You can substitute cottage cheese for ricotta if preferred.
Feel free to use all ground beef if you prefer to skip the Italian sausage.
Leftovers reheat well in the oven or microwave.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 778 kcal
Sugar: 7 g
Sodium: 1052 mg
Fat: 46 g
Saturated Fat: 23 g
Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
Trans Fat: 0.5 g
Carbohydrates: 53 g
Fiber: 3 g
Protein: 38 g
Cholesterol: 154 mg