Here’s a rich, comforting, crowd-pleasing bake: Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole—basically spaghetti meets creamy lasagna in one dish.
🍝 Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole
🧾 Ingredients
Pasta layer
- 400–500g spaghetti
- Salt (for boiling water)
- 1 tbsp oil or butter
Meat sauce
- 500g ground beef (or half beef, half sausage)
- 1 small onion (chopped)
- 2–3 garlic cloves (minced)
- 2–3 cups marinara or pasta sauce
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt & pepper to taste
Cream cheese layer
- 200g cream cheese (softened)
- 1/2 cup sour cream or yogurt
- 1/2 cup cottage cheese or ricotta (optional but classic)
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
Topping
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
🍳 Instructions
1. Cook the pasta
- Boil spaghetti until just al dente
- Drain and toss lightly with oil so it doesn’t stick
2. Make meat sauce
- Cook beef + onion until browned
- Add garlic and cook 1 minute
- Stir in marinara sauce + seasoning
- Simmer 5–10 minutes
3. Make creamy layer
- Mix cream cheese + sour cream + cottage cheese
- Stir until smooth and spreadable
4. Assemble casserole
In a greased baking dish:
- Half the spaghetti
- Cream cheese mixture (spread evenly)
- Remaining spaghetti
- Meat sauce on top
- Mozzarella + Parmesan
5. Bake
- Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 25–30 minutes
- Cheese should be melted and bubbly
6. Rest & serve
- Let it sit 10 minutes before cutting (helps layers set)
🍽️ Result
A rich baked pasta casserole often called Spaghetti Casserole—creamy in the middle, saucy on top, and cheesy in every bite.
💡 Tips for success
- Don’t overcook pasta (it softens more in the oven)
- Let cream cheese soften for easier mixing
- Add red pepper flakes for a spicy kick
- You can prep it a day ahead and bake later
If you want, I can also make:
- A budget version using fewer cheeses
- A chicken “million dollar spaghetti” twist
- Or a one-pan skillet shortcut version (no baking)
