Million Dollar Spaghetti

Million Dollar Spaghetti is a hearty spaghetti casserole that’s creamy, cheesy, and packed with flavor. This easy pasta casserole is family-friendly and budget-friendly.

Million dollar spaghetti is a delicious baked pasta casserole that has layers of spaghetti, meat sauce, and cheese. This cheesy baked spaghetti is an easy dinner recipe that’s always a hit with kids and adults alike!

Ingredient notes

• Cream cheese – Regular or reduced-fat cream cheese will work. I don’t recommend using fat-free cream cheese in this recipe because it doesn’t melt well.
• Ricotta cheese – Regular or part-skim will work. I don’t recommend fat-free ricotta cheese. If you don’t want to use ricotta cheese, cottage cheese makes a good substitute.
• Italian seasoning – Feel free to use more if you’d like.
• Ground beef – I recommend using lean ground beef. Ground turkey, ground chicken, or Italian sausage can also be used.
• Marinara sauce – This recipe calls for 28 ounces of sauce. For some brands of spaghetti sauce, a jar is 22-24 ounces. Double check the size of your sauce to ensure that you have enough.
• Mozzarella cheese – You can also add 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese for even more flavor.

How to make million dollar spaghetti

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13 inch pan.

Step 2: Combine the cream cheese, ricotta cheese, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper in a large mixing bowl.

Step 3: Mix until well combined; set it aside.

Step 4: Cook the spaghetti noodles in a large pot according to the directions on the package for al dente noodles.

Step 5: Drain and return to the pot.

Step 6: Meanwhile, brown the ground beef in a sauté pan or skillet over medium-high heat until no longer pink, making sure to break the beef into bite-size pieces.

Step 7: Drain the grease from the beef.

Step 8: Add the sauce and the cooked ground beef to the pot with the noodles.

Step 9: Pour the spaghetti mixture into the baking dish.

Step 10: Spread the cheese mixture over the meat sauce in an even layer.

Step 11: Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over the top.

Step 12: Bake for about 20-30 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and the casserole is hot and bubbly.

Make ahead instructions

This casserole can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator or frozen (freezer meal).

Refrigerator

The casserole can be made a day ahead. To make ahead, make as directed through step 11.

Wrap tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and store in the refrigerator until ready to make. Unwrap and bake as directed.

Freezer

To freeze the casserole, make through step 11. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil. Freeze until ready to bake.

Place the frozen casserole into the fridge to thaw for 24-48 hours before you’re ready to bake it. Cook as directed. You may need to add 15-20 minutes to the baking time.

Variations

• Vegetarian – You can omit the ground beef or use veggie crumbles in place of the ground beef. You can also add sauteed mushrooms to the sauce.
• Pasta – Feel free to use another type of pasta, like penne, if you prefer. If you use another type of pasta, you may need to drop dollops of the cream cheese mixture over the top and then spread.
• Heat – If you’d like to add some heat to this baked spaghetti, add red pepper flakes to the sauce.
• Lighter – To make this spaghetti casserole lighter, use reduced-fat or Greek yogurt cream cheese, part-skim ricotta, extra lean ground beef or lean ground turkey, and reduce the amount of mozzarella cheese.

Side dishes for million dollar spaghetti

Garlic knots, garlic breadsticks, or garlic bread and green salad go well with this baked spaghetti.

Storage

Any leftovers should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The leftovers will keep for up to 4 days when properly stored.

More pasta recipes!

If you’ve tried this million dollar spaghetti recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below. I love to hear from people who’ve made my recipes!

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