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Slice of baked million dollar spaghetti with creamy cheese layers, meat sauce, and spaghetti noodles on a gray plate, served with a fresh green salad.

Million Dollar Spaghetti

Ella
This rich, creamy Million Dollar Spaghetti is the perfect comfort food blend of cheesy layers, hearty meat sauce, and baked spaghetti goodness. Easy, indulgent, and totally crowd-pleasing!
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Main Course
Cuisine American, Italian
Servings 8 servings
Calories 350 kcal

Ingredients
  

For the Pasta Base

  • 16 oz spaghetti noodles
  • 3 tbsp butter cut into pieces

For the Meat Sauce

  • 0.5 lb ground beef
  • 0.5 lb Italian sausage or substitute with chicken sausage
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 small onion finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 24 oz marinara sauce reserve 1/2 cup for pasta

For the Creamy Cheese Layer

  • 8 oz cream cheese softened
  • 0.25 cup sour cream
  • 1 cup cottage cheese or ricotta for smoother texture

For the Topping

  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 0.66 cup grated parmesan cheese freshly grated

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
  • In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and sausage, breaking them apart. Season with salt and pepper. Drain excess grease.
  • Add chopped onion and garlic to the meat. Cook until onion is soft and translucent.
  • Stir in all but 1/2 cup of the marinara sauce. Let it simmer while you prepare the pasta.
  • Boil spaghetti in salted water until al dente. Drain.
  • In a large bowl, toss hot spaghetti with butter and the reserved marinara until coated.
  • In another bowl, mix cream cheese, sour cream, and cottage cheese until smooth.
  • Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish. Add half the spaghetti, then spread all the cheese mixture on top. Add remaining spaghetti, then the meat sauce.
  • Top evenly with mozzarella and parmesan.
  • Bake for 30–40 minutes until bubbly. Cover loosely with foil if cheese browns too fast.
  • Let the dish rest for 15 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

For smoother texture, use ricotta instead of cottage cheese. Letting the casserole rest before slicing ensures clean layers. You can assemble the dish ahead and bake later, or freeze it before baking for up to 3 months.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

  • Calories: 350 kcal
  • Carbohydrates: 28 g
  • Protein: 17 g
  • Fat: 19 g
  • Saturated Fat: 9 g
  • Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g
  • Monounsaturated Fat: 6 g
  • Trans Fat: 0.2 g
  • Cholesterol: 60 mg
  • Sodium: 605 mg
  • Potassium: 356 mg
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Sugar: 4 g
  • Vitamin A: 640 IU
  • Vitamin C: 4 mg
  • Calcium: 163 mg
  • Iron: 1 mg
Keyword Creamy Baked Pasta, Easy Dinner, Million Dollar Spaghetti, Pasta Bake, Spaghetti Casserole