Million Dollar Spaghetti Recipe: Easy Casserole

 Million Dollar Spaghetti is pure comfort food. It’s a hearty spaghetti casserole with layers of pasta, meat sauce, and lots of creamy, cheesy goodness. Every bite is rich and delicious. And it’s always a family favorite.

This easy dinner is perfect for feeding the family or sharing with friends. Add a simple salad and garlic bread, and dinner is done. Don’t let the name fool you. This spaghetti casserole tastes like a million bucks, but it’s made with simple, everyday ingredients.

this recipe

Ingredients At A Glance

• spaghetti 
• salted butter
• lean ground beef
• marinara sauce
• softened cream cheese
• sour cream
• ricotta cheese (or cottage cheese)
• mozzarella cheese
• Chopped fresh parsley, optional garnish

You will need the following supplies: 

• 9×13-inch deep baking dish
• Large stockpot and colander
• Large skillet
• Medium mixing bowl and electric hand mixer (or whisk)
• Rubber spatula or offset spatula

Directions Overview (FULL Printable Recipe Card Down Below!)

Boil the spaghetti in a large pot of boiling, salted water according to package directions. Add one jar of marinara sauce to the spaghetti and combine until fully incorporated. Set aside for now.

Cook the ground beef until browned and no longer pink, then drain any excess fat. Pour the remaining jar of marinara sauce into the skillet with the cooked beef.

Whisk together the softened cream cheese, sour cream, and ricotta cheese until smooth.

Pour the melted butter into the bottom of the prepared 9×13-inch baking dish.

Place half of the cooked spaghetti noodles in an even layer over the melted butter.

Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the spaghetti layer.

Top with the remaining spaghetti, then pour the meat and marinara sauce mixture evenly over the top.

Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese over the top layer.

Bake until the casserole is heated through and the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Helpful Tips

Significant Substitutions & Ingredient Details:

Ground Meat: You can easily swap ground beef for sweet or spicy Italian sausage, ground turkey, or ground chicken. Using a 50/50 blend of ground beef and ground Italian sausage also adds depth and spice.

Ricotta Cheese: Whole milk ricotta yields a classic, luxurious texture. You can substitute equal amounts of small-curd cottage cheese (blended smooth or left whole) for a slightly lighter, higher-protein filling.

Marinara Sauce: Use a high-quality marinara or homemade meatless tomato sauce. This is where most of the flavor comes from with this dish.

Mozzarella Cheese: You can also use cheddar or Colby Jack cheese instead of mozzarella.

How should I store my Million Dollar Spaghetti?

Store leftover Million Dollar Spaghetti wrapped tightly or in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat individual slices in the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes, or cover the entire dish with foil and heat in a 350°F oven for 20 minutes, until warm throughout.

This casserole also makes a great freezer meal: assemble it completely (unbaked), cover tightly with plastic wrap and aluminum foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before baking as directed, adding 10 extra minutes to the oven time.

Additional Tips:

Softened cream cheese is easier to blend. Cold cream cheese will make it difficult to blend smoothly with the ricotta and sour cream, which can result in uneven distribution across the pasta layer.

Cook the spaghetti al dente. Because the pasta is also baked in the oven, it can become mushy if it’s overcooked.

Toss the bottom layer of cooked noodles directly in the melted butter at the base of the baking dish. This creates an invisible barrier that prevents the pasta from sticking to the pan while infusing every noodle with flavor.

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Yield: 10-12 Servings

Million Dollar Spaghetti

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This easy Million Dollar Spaghetti recipe is a creamy, cheesy baked casserole layered with hearty meat sauce and pasta. It’s a family-favorite comfort food that’s perfect for weeknight dinners, potlucks, and Sunday supper.

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 50 minutes

Ingredients

• 16 ounces spaghetti
• ½ cup (1 stick) salted butter
• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 2 (24 ounce each) jars marinara sauce, divided in half
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• ½ cup sour cream
• 1 cup ricotta cheese (or cottage cheese)
• 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
• Chopped fresh parsley, optional garnish

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350º F and set aside a 9x13-inch baking dish.
2. Boil the spaghetti in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package directions until al dente, then drain. Do not overcook. 
3. Add one jar of marinara sauce to the spaghetti and combine until fully incorporated. Set aside for now. 
4. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef until browned and no longer pink, then drain any excess fat.
5. Pour the remaining jar of marinara sauce into the skillet with the cooked beef and stir until combined.
6. In a medium bowl, whisk together the softened cream cheese, sour cream, and ricotta cheese until smooth.
7. Pour the melted butter into the bottom of the prepared 9x13-inch baking dish.
8. Place half of the cooked spaghetti noodles in an even layer over the melted butter.
9. Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the spaghetti layer.
10. Top with the remaining spaghetti noodles, then pour the meat and marinara sauce mixture evenly over the top.
11. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese over the top layer.
12. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the casserole is heated through and the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Notes

1. Soften your cream cheese completely to room temperature before mixing. Cold cream cheese will make it difficult to blend smoothly with the ricotta and sour cream, which can result in uneven distribution across the pasta layer.
2. Boil spaghetti until al dente. Because the pasta is also baked in the oven, it can become mushy if it’s been overcooked. 
3. Toss the bottom layer of cooked noodles directly in the melted butter at the base of the baking dish. This creates an invisible barrier that prevents the pasta from sticking to the pan while infusing every noodle with flavor.

Nutrition Information

Yield

10

Serving Size

Approximately 1 cup
Amount Per Serving Calories 371Total Fat 24gSaturated Fat 13gUnsaturated Fat 11gCholesterol 92mgSodium 335mgCarbohydrates 19gFiber 1gSugar 3gProtein 21g

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More Of My Delicious Pasta Recipes Below!

Make sure you try my Homemade Spaghetti Sauce in the slow cooker. Also, Classic Stuffed Shells With Spinach and Ricotta is a family favorite. If you’re looking for a simple baked spaghetti, try this one.