Description
A comforting baked pasta classic made with layers of spaghetti, creamy cheese, and rich meat sauce. This Million Dollar Spaghetti is budget-friendly, family-loved, and pure comfort in every bite.
Ingredients
16 ounces spaghetti noodles
½ pound ground beef
½ pound ground Italian sausage (or pork sausage)
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
24 ounces marinara sauce
3 tablespoons butter
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
¼ cup sour cream
1 cup cottage cheese or ricotta cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
⅔ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. In a large skillet, cook and crumble the ground beef and sausage with salt and pepper. Drain excess fat.
3. Add onion and garlic, sauté until fragrant and translucent.
4. Pour in marinara sauce, reserving ½ cup, and simmer for 5 minutes.
5. Cook spaghetti according to package directions until al dente. Drain and toss with butter and reserved sauce.
6. Mix cream cheese, sour cream, and cottage cheese until smooth.
7. In a 9×13 inch baking dish, layer half the noodles, the cheese mixture, remaining noodles, and meat sauce.
8. Top with mozzarella and parmesan cheese.
9. Bake for 30–40 minutes until bubbly and golden.
10. Let rest 15 minutes before serving.
Notes
To make ahead: assemble casserole up to baking, cover and refrigerate for 24 hours.
To freeze: wrap tightly and freeze up to 3 months. Thaw before baking.
For a lighter variation, substitute ground chicken or try the Chicken Million Dollar Spaghetti version.
For a cultural twist, explore the Filipino-style Million Dollar Spaghetti from Panlasang Pinoy.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Pasta & Noodle One-Pot Meals
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Italian