What’s in million dollar spaghetti?

Million dollar spaghetti is a rich, layered pasta casserole. It typically includes spaghetti noodles, a savory meat sauce (usually beef and sausage), and a decadent, creamy cheese layer made with a mix of cheeses like cream cheese, sour cream, and cottage cheese, all topped with melted mozzarella and parmesan.

Why is it called million dollar lasagna?

The "million dollar" name comes from the rich and indulgent taste, not the cost. It’s called “lasagna” sometimes because of the layered structure, but it’s much easier to make since you don’t have to layer delicate lasagna noodles.

Can you prepare million dollar spaghetti ahead of time?

Yes, absolutely! You can assemble the entire casserole up to 24 hours in advance and store it covered in the refrigerator. Just add 5-10 minutes to your baking time since it will be going into the oven cold.

What is the difference between million dollar spaghetti and baked spaghetti?

While both are baked pasta dishes, million dollar spaghetti is distinguished by its signature creamy layer of cottage cheese, cream cheese, and sour cream. A classic baked spaghetti often just has a mix of pasta, sauce, and cheese, without that extra creamy layer that makes this dish so rich.

The Best Million Dollar Spaghetti: A Cheesy, Crowd-Pleasing Casserole

Description

A rich and cheesy baked spaghetti casserole with a creamy cheese layer that makes it taste like a million bucks. Perfect for family dinners and a true crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients

Scale

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

Make Meat Sauce: 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.
Prepare Noodles: 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.
Make Cheese Layer: Combine cream cheese, sour cream and cottage cheese in a bowl and mix well.
Assemble: 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: 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!

Notes

This casserole is great for making ahead of time. You can assemble the dish and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours before baking. Leftovers store well and taste even better the next day!

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 618
Sugar: 6g
Sodium: 721mg
Fat: 42g
Saturated Fat: 24g
Unsaturated Fat: 18g
Carbohydrates: 31g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 28g
Cholesterol: 136mg

Keywords: million dollar spaghetti, baked spaghetti, spaghetti casserole, ground beef spaghetti, easy dinner, comfort food, potluck, family meal