Here’s the famous Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole—a rich, cheesy, baked pasta dish that tastes like lasagna but is way easier to make.
🍝 Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole
🧾 Ingredients
- 12 oz (340g) spaghetti
- 1 lb (450g) ground beef (or sausage)
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara or pasta sauce
- 1 cup cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup ricotta cheese (or cottage cheese)
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup parmesan cheese
- 1 small onion, chopped (optional)
- 2–3 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt, pepper, Italian seasoning to taste
👩🍳 How to make it
- Cook spaghetti until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a pan, cook ground beef + onion + garlic until browned. Drain fat.
- Stir in marinara sauce and simmer a few minutes.
- In a bowl, mix cream cheese + ricotta + sour cream until smooth.
- In a baking dish, layer like this:
- Half the spaghetti
- Cheese mixture
- Remaining spaghetti
- Meat sauce
- Top with mozzarella + parmesan cheese.
- Bake at 175°C (350°F) for about 30–40 minutes until bubbly and golden.
- Let it sit 10 minutes before serving so it sets nicely.
😋 Why it’s called “Million Dollar”
It’s ultra creamy, cheesy, and rich—like a luxury version of baked spaghetti without being complicated.
🔥 Easy upgrades
- Add mushrooms or bell peppers to the meat sauce
- Use Italian sausage for extra flavor
- Add a pinch of chili flakes for heat
- Mix mozzarella into the middle layer for extra gooey texture
If you want, I can also give you:
- a 5-ingredient lazy version
- a no-boil shortcut version
- or a freezer meal prep version that you can bake later 👍
