Description
Baked Million Dollar Spaghetti is a rich, comforting casserole that combines classic pasta flavors with a velvety, three-cheese center. Layered with a savory beef and sausage meat sauce and a decadent cream cheese filling, it’s the ultimate crowd-pleaser for any hearty dinner.
Ingredients
The Meat Sauce & Pasta
- 16 oz spaghetti noodles
- 1/2 lb ground beef
- 1/2 lb ground sausage
- 24 oz marinara sauce (reserve 1/2 cup)
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper
The ‘Million Dollar’ Filling
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 cup cottage cheese (or ricotta)
The Topping
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
Meat Sauce: Brown beef and sausage; drain. Sauté onions and garlic until soft. Stir in marinara (except 1/2 cup).
Noodles: Boil spaghetti until al dente. Toss with butter and reserved 1/2 cup marinara.
Cheese Layer: Whisk softened cream cheese, sour cream, and cottage cheese until smooth.
Assemble: In a 9×13 pan, layer half the noodles, then the cheese mixture, the rest of the noodles, and the meat sauce.
Bake: Top with mozzarella and Parmesan. Bake at 350°F for 30–40 mins. Rest for 15 mins before slicing.
Notes
Reserved Sauce: Tossing noodles with butter and sauce prevents a dry, sticky pasta ‘brick.’
Grease Management: Drain meat thoroughly to prevent oil from pooling with the dairy layers.
Resting Period: Essential for the layers to set, giving you clean, picturesque slices.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking / Layering
- Cuisine: American-Italian Comfort
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Square
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 890mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 115mg
Keywords: million dollar spaghetti, baked spaghetti casserole, cream cheese pasta bake, easy family dinner, potluck pasta recipes, cheesy meat sauce spaghetti