This Million Dollar Spaghetti lives up to its luxurious name – a rich, comforting pasta dish that tastes like a splurge but won’t break the bank. Ready in just an hour, this indulgent recipe combines layers of perfectly cooked spaghetti with savory flavors that will make any weeknight dinner feel special. At 350 calories per serving with 17g of protein, it’s a satisfying meal that strikes the perfect balance between treating yourself and staying mindful of nutrition.
Ingredients for Million Dollar Spaghetti
- Pasta: 16 ounces spaghetti noodles, cooked al dente for perfect texture
- Meats: 1/2 pound each of ground beef and Italian sausage for rich flavor
- Aromatics: 1 small chopped onion and 2 minced garlic cloves
- Sauce Base: 24 ounces marinara sauce, divided
- Dairy Components:
– 3 tablespoons butter
– 8 ounces softened cream cheese
– 1/4 cup sour cream
– 1 cup cottage cheese (or ricotta)
– 2 cups shredded mozzarella
– 2/3 cup fresh parmesan - Seasonings: Salt and pepper to taste
Cooking Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat your oven to 350°F
- Meat Sauce Making: Brown meats with seasonings, drain excess grease, add onions and garlic until translucent. Mix in marinara sauce (reserve 1/2 cup)
- Pasta Prep: Cook spaghetti al dente, toss with butter and reserved marinara
- Cheese Mixture: Blend cream cheese, sour cream, and cottage cheese until smooth
- Assembly: Layer half pasta, cheese mixture, remaining pasta, meat sauce, top with mozzarella and parmesan
- Baking: Bake 30-40 minutes until bubbly (tent with foil if cheese browns too quickly)
- Finishing: Let rest 15 minutes before serving
Make-Ahead Tips
This cozy spaghetti casserole is perfect for busy families! You can prep it up to 24 hours before baking – just keep it covered in the fridge. Let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before popping it in the oven. Want to freeze it? Assemble everything except the top layer of cheese, wrap tightly, and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to eat, thaw overnight in the fridge, add the cheese, and bake!
Simple Swaps
Feel free to mix things up with this flexible recipe! Try ground turkey instead of beef for a lighter version. Not a fan of cottage cheese? Ricotta works beautifully too. You can swap the spaghetti for any long pasta like linguine or fettuccine. For extra veggie goodness, add finely chopped carrots, celery, or bell peppers when cooking the onions.
Serving Ideas
This cheesy baked spaghetti shines with simple sides! Pair it with a crisp green salad and warm garlic bread. Want to dress it up? Sprinkle fresh basil on top just before serving, or offer extra warm marinara sauce on the side. Remember to let it rest for those important 15 minutes – this helps the layers stay put when you cut into it!
Storage & Reheating
Lucky enough to have leftovers? Cover and keep them in the fridge for up to 4 days. To reheat, pop individual portions in the microwave for 1-2 minutes. For best results, add a splash of marinara sauce before reheating to keep it nice and saucy. The pasta might soak up some sauce as it sits, but it’ll still taste amazing!
Million Dollar Spaghetti
Equipment
- 9×13 baking pan
- Large skillet
- Large mixing bowl
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 16 ounces spaghetti noodles
- 1/2 pound ground beef
- 1/2 pound ground Italian sausage or pork sausage
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 small onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 24 ounces marinara sauce
- 3 Tablespoons butter
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 cup cottage cheese or ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2/3 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a large skillet cook and crumble the ground beef and Italian sausage and season with salt and pepper. Remove most of the grease. Add onions and garlic and cook for a few minutes until onion is translucent. Add all but ½ cup of the marinara sauce (reserve ½ cup for later) to the mixture and stir to combine. Set aside.
- Cook Spaghetti according to package instructions, just until “al dente”. Drain, and place hot spaghetti in a large mixing bowl with butter and ½ cup reserved marinara sauce and toss to combine.
- Combine cream cheese, sour cream and cottage cheese in a bowl and mix well.
- Pour HALF of the pasta into a 9×13” pan. Smooth cheese layer on top. Top with remaining noodles. Add meat sauce on top and smooth into an even layer. Top with mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Check it around 20 minutes and if the cheese is browning too quickly, tent a piece of tinfoil over it.
- Wait at least 15 minutes before cutting and serving, to allow it to set up. Enjoy!
