Million Dollar Spaghetti is a rich, comforting baked pasta dish layered with creamy cheese and hearty meat sauce—similar to lasagna but made with spaghetti. 🍝🧀
Million Dollar Spaghetti
Ingredients
For the Pasta & Sauce
- 1 pound spaghetti
- 1 pound ground beef (or Italian sausage)
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara or spaghetti sauce
- ½ cup onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the Creamy Layer
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup cottage cheese (or ricotta)
- ¼ cup sour cream
For the Topping
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons butter, sliced
Instructions
1. Cook the Spaghetti
- Boil spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente.
- Drain and set aside.
2. Prepare the Meat Sauce
- In a skillet, cook ground beef and onion over medium heat until browned.
- Add garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Stir in marinara sauce, season with salt and pepper, and simmer for about 5 minutes.
3. Make the Creamy Layer
- In a bowl, mix cream cheese, cottage cheese, and sour cream until smooth.
4. Assemble the Dish
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Layer half the spaghetti in the dish.
- Spread the cream cheese mixture over the pasta.
- Add the remaining spaghetti on top.
- Pour the meat sauce over everything.
- Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan on top.
- Place butter slices over the cheese.
5. Bake
- Bake 30–40 minutes until bubbly and golden.
Tips
- Let the casserole rest for 10–15 minutes before serving so it slices nicely.
- Add Italian seasoning or red pepper flakes for extra flavor.
- You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version.
🍽️ Serve with: garlic bread and a fresh salad.
If you want, I can also show you the viral “Million Dollar Spaghetti” trick that makes the cheese layer extra creamy and restaurant-style.
