🍝 Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole

Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole is a rich, cheesy, and comforting baked pasta dish
layered with creamy cheese filling, savory meat sauce, and perfectly cooked spaghetti.
It’s a crowd-pleasing dinner that tastes like a million dollars!

Ingredients

For the Pasta:

• 1 pound (450g) spaghetti
• Salt, for boiling water

For the Meat Sauce:

• 1 pound (450g) ground beef
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 jar (24 oz / 680g) marinara sauce
• 1 can (15 oz / 425g) tomato sauce
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper

For the Creamy Cheese Layer:

• 8 oz (225g) cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 1 cup sour cream
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

For Topping:

• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• Fresh parsley (optional)

Instructions

Step 1: Cook the Pasta

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
2. Cook spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente.
3. Drain and set aside.

Step 2: Prepare the Meat Sauce

1. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef until browned.
2. Add onion and cook 3–4 minutes until softened.
3. Stir in garlic and cook 1 minute until fragrant.
4. Add marinara sauce, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
5. Simmer 8–10 minutes, then remove from heat.

Step 3: Make the Creamy Cheese Mixture

1. In a bowl, combine cream cheese, ricotta, sour cream, and Parmesan.
2. Mix until smooth and well blended.

Step 4: Assemble the Casserole

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
3. Spread half of the cooked spaghetti in the dish.
4. Layer the cheese mixture evenly over spaghetti.
5. Add remaining spaghetti on top.
6. Pour meat sauce evenly over pasta.
7. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top.

Step 5: Bake

1. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
2. Remove foil and bake 10–15 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
3. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

Tips for the Best Million Dollar Spaghetti

• Use freshly grated mozzarella for better melting.
• Substitute ground turkey or Italian sausage for variety.
• Add red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.
• Prepare ahead and refrigerate before baking if needed.

Storage

• Refrigerator: Store up to 4 days in an airtight container.
• Freezer: Freeze up to 2 months. Thaw overnight before reheating.