Why is it called “Million Dollar” Spaghetti? Because it tastes like a million bucks.
This recipe takes humble spaghetti and transforms it into something truly spectacular. It’s essentially a cross between spaghetti bolognese and lasagna. You get the familiar comfort of pasta in meat sauce, but it’s elevated by a hidden, rich, creamy layer in the center that makes every bite impossibly decadent. It is the definition of ultimate comfort food.
Why You’ll Love This Casserole
- The Creamy Layer: The secret weapon! A mixture of cream cheese, sour cream, or ricotta creates a luscious tang that balances the rich tomato sauce.
- Feeds a Crowd: This makes a huge 9×13 inch pan, perfect for big families, potlucks, or meal prepping.
- Freezer Gold: It freezes beautifully before or after baking, making it an ideal make-ahead pasta casserole.
- Budget-Friendly: It uses simple, affordable ingredients to create a massive amount of food.
What It Tastes Like
It’s rich, hearty, and cheesy. The meat sauce is savory and robust. The middle layer is creamy, tangy, and smooth, cutting through the acidity of the tomatoes. The mozzarella on top gets golden and bubbly, providing that perfect cheese pull. It’s cozy comfort in a dish.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here is what you need for this baked spaghetti:
- Spaghetti: Cooked al dente. Angel hair can get too mushy; thicker spaghetti or linguine works best.
- Ground Beef: Lean ground beef is best so the casserole isn’t greasy. You could also use Italian sausage.
- Marinara Sauce: Use your favorite jarred sauce (about 24 oz) or make your own.
- Cream Cheese & Sour Cream: This forms the magical creamy center layer.
- Substitution: You can substitute ricotta cheese for the cream cheese or sour cream for a more lasagna-like texture. Cottage cheese works too!
- Mozzarella Cheese: Freshly grated melts best.
- Butter & Garlic: Tossed with the cooked pasta for extra flavor base.
- Italian Seasoning: To boost the flavor of the creamy layer.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prep & Cook Pasta: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish. Cook spaghetti according to package directions to al dente. Drain.
- Make Meat Sauce: While pasta cooks, brown ground beef in a large skillet. Drain grease. Stir in the jar of marinara sauce and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Make Creamy Filling: In a medium bowl, combine softened cream cheese, sour cream, and Italian seasoning. Mix until smooth.
- Toss Pasta: Return drained spaghetti to the pot. Toss with melted butter and garlic powder.
- Layer 1 (Bottom): Spread half of the buttery spaghetti into the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Top with half of the meat sauce.
- Layer 2 (Middle): Carefully spread the creamy cheese mixture over the meat sauce layer. It helps to dollop it over the surface and then gently spread with the back of a spoon.
- Layer 3 (Top): Top with the remaining spaghetti, followed by the remaining meat sauce.
- Final Top: Sprinkle generously with the shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Bake: Bake uncovered for 30-35 minutes, until heated through and the cheese is melted and golden brown bubbly. Let stand for 10 minutes before slicing.
Storage & Freezing
- Fridge: Store covered in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Reheating: Reheat individual slices in the microwave. To reheat the whole pan, cover with foil and bake at 350°F until hot.
- Freezing (Unbaked): Assemble the casserole, cover tightly with plastic wrap and foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before baking as directed (add 10-15 mins to bake time).
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called Million Dollar Spaghetti? It’s just a fun name implying that the addition of the rich, creamy layer makes it taste incredibly expensive and luxurious!
Can I make this ahead of time? Yes! You can assemble the entire casserole up to 24 hours in advance and store it in the fridge. Just add 10-15 minutes to the baking time since it’s going in cold.
Do I have to use cream cheese? Nope. A 15 oz tub of ricotta cheese mixed with an egg and some parmesan is a classic alternative for the middle layer.
Conclusion
This Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole is sure to become a regular in your dinner rotation. It’s the perfect meal to make on a Sunday and enjoy for lunch all week!
Did you try this ultimate comfort food? Leave a rating below and let me know if you used cream cheese or ricotta!
