Million Dollar Spaghetti calling all pasta lovers! Are you ready to ditch the takeout menus and elevate your spaghetti game to Michelin-star levels? Buckle up because this baked spaghetti casserole is about to blow your mind!
What Is Million Dollar Baked Spaghetti
Million Dollar Baked Spaghetti is a sumptuous twist on the classic spaghetti dish, elevating it with layers of rich, creamy cheeses, flavorful meat sauce, and tender pasta.
This dish is known for its indulgent combination of ingredients, including ricotta or cottage cheese, cream cheese, and sour cream, which contribute to its creamy texture, and a generous amount of mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses for a gooey, melty top layer.
The name “Million Dollar” suggests a level of richness and decadence associated with luxurious dining, yet this dish is surprisingly affordable and straightforward to prepare.
Why This Will Become Your Favorite Recipe!
- Indulgent Flavor Profile: The combination of creamy ricotta or cottage cheese, tangy cream cheese, and sour cream with a hearty meat sauce creates a rich and indulgent flavor that’s hard to resist.
- Versatility: This dish is easily adaptable to various tastes and dietary preferences.
- Perfect for Any Occasion: Whether it’s a casual family dinner, a potluck with friends, or a festive holiday gathering,
- Make-Ahead Convenience: It’s an excellent option for meal prep as it can be assembled ahead of time and baked when needed.
- Comfort Food at Its Best: There’s something incredibly comforting about a baked pasta dish.
- Crowd-Pleaser: Its universal appeal lies in the familiar flavors and ingredients that are elevated to create a memorable meal.
- Easy to Prepare: Million Dollar Baked Spaghetti is straightforward despite its luxurious name.
Ingredients Needed For Million Dollar Baked Spaghetti
Here’s a closer look at the ingredients that make this dish a standout and why each is essential to achieving that coveted million-dollar taste.
Remember the step-by-step directions and detailed ingredient list are below, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post, as well as the nutritional information.
- Spaghetti: The base of the dish, spaghetti noodles, provides a familiar and comforting texture.
- Ground Beef or Italian Sausage: This adds the hearty, savory element to the dish. Ground beef offers a classic flavor, while Italian sausage brings a spicier, more robust taste.
- Marinara Sauce: A good quality marinara sauce introduces a rich tomato base, infused with herbs and garlic, lending depth and acidity to balance the creamy cheeses.
- Ricotta Cheese: Ricotta adds a creamy, delicate texture and a slightly sweet flavor, creating a luxurious layer that makes the dish truly special.
- Cream Cheese: It provides a silky, smooth richness that elevates the dish, adding a depth of flavor that complements the tanginess of the marinara sauce.
- Sour Cream: This ingredient introduces a tangy creaminess, enhancing the overall texture and adding a subtle complexity to the flavors.
- Mozzarella Cheese: Mozzarella offers a beautiful melt and a mild, milky flavor that pulls the dish together, creating that irresistible cheese pull we all love.
- Parmesan Cheese: Aged Parmesan brings a nutty, salty bite, adding an essential layer of umami and enhancing the overall savoriness of the bake.
- Eggs: Eggs act as a binder for the cheese layer, ensuring it holds its shape and texture when baked, contributing to the dish’s structural integrity.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic adds a pungent, aromatic quality that deepens the flavor profile of the meat sauce, making it more complex and inviting.
- Seasonings (such as Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper): These seasonings are crucial for adding depth and enhancing the natural flavors of the other ingredients, bringing the dish to life.
How to make million dollar baked spaghetti with cream cheese
Here’s how to bring this luxurious dish to your table:
Preheat Oven and Prepare Spaghetti: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Cook the spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente, drain, and set aside.
Brown the Meat: In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef or Italian sausage with the minced garlic, breaking the meat into small pieces as it cooks. Drain any excess grease.
Add Marinara Sauce: Stir the marinara sauce into the cooked meat. Add Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer the sauce for about 10 minutes to blend the flavors.
Mix Cheeses and Eggs: In a bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, cream cheese, sour cream, and eggs. Mix until smooth. This will be your creamy cheese layer.
Layer the Ingredients: In a greased 9×13 inch baking dish, spread a thin layer of the meat sauce. Follow with a layer of cooked spaghetti. Over the spaghetti, spread the cheese mixture evenly. Top with another layer of meat sauce. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese over the top.
Bake: Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Then, remove the foil and bake for 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and slightly golden.
Million Dollar Baked Spaghetti Recipe Variations
- Vegetarian Version: Substitute the Meat: Replace ground beef or Italian sausage with a plant-based alternative, such as lentils, mushrooms, or a vegetarian ground meat substitute. These options will still give the sauce body and flavor without the meat. Add Vegetables: Incorporate spinach, zucchini, or bell peppers into the sauce for added nutrition and taste.
- Gluten-Free Adaptation: Gluten-Free Pasta: Use gluten-free spaghetti to make the dish suitable for those with gluten sensitivities or celiac disease. Many gluten-free pasta options provide a similar texture and taste to traditional wheat pasta.
- Low-Carb/Keto Version: Zucchini Noodles: Replace the spaghetti with zucchini noodles (zoodles) for a low-carb version. Ensure to drain the zoodles well to prevent excess moisture from making the casserole too watery. Adjust the Cheeses: Use full-fat cheeses and consider increasing the amount of meat to make the dish more keto-friendly, focusing on higher fat and protein content.
- Spicy Kick: Spicy Sausage and Chili Flakes: Use spicy Italian sausage instead of regular and add red chili flakes to the sauce for those who enjoy a bit of heat.
- Seafood Twist: Seafood Substitute: For a pescatarian version, replace the ground meat with a mixture of shrimp, crab, or chopped scallops. This variation offers a lighter but equally flavorful alternative.
- Extra Cheesy: Additional Cheese Varieties: Incorporate layers of cheeses such as Gouda, Asiago, or smoked mozzarella for an even cheesier experience. Each cheese brings its unique flavor, enhancing the dish’s overall taste.
- Chicken Alfredo Version: Chicken and Alfredo Sauce: Swap the marinara sauce and ground beef for cooked, shredded chicken and Alfredo sauce. This variation creates a creamy, rich dish reminiscent of chicken Alfredo pasta but in a baked, comforting form.
- Greek-Inspired: Lamb and Feta: Use ground lamb instead of beef or sausage and add crumbled feta cheese to the layers. Incorporate Greek seasonings like oregano and thyme for a Mediterranean flair.
Million Dollar Baked Spaghetti Recipe Tips
- Quality Ingredients Matter: Select High-Quality Cheese: The richness of this dish largely comes from its cheese.
- Pasta Perfection: Don’t Overcook the Pasta: Cook your spaghetti to al dente according to package instructions.
- Flavorful Sauce: Season Your Meat Well: Whether using ground beef, Italian sausage, or a plant-based substitute, season it well.
- Creamy Cheese Layer: Let Cream Cheese Soften: Ensure your cream cheese is at room temperature to mix smoothly with the ricotta and sour cream, avoiding lumps for a perfectly creamy layer.
- Layering Technique: Even Layers: Spread each layer (pasta, meat sauce, cheese mixture) evenly across the dish to ensure every bite is balanced and delicious.
- Baking to Perfection: Cover While Baking: Covering the dish with foil for the first part of baking prevents the top from browning too quickly while ensuring the middle is cooked through.
- Rest Before Serving: Let It Sit: Allow the baked spaghetti to rest for 10 minutes after removing it from the oven.
- Garnishing: Fresh Herbs for the Win: A sprinkle of fresh basil, parsley, or even a dash of red pepper flakes before serving can add a burst of color and flavor, enhancing the overall dish.
- Experiment with Add-Ins: Personalize Your Dish: Add vegetables like spinach, mushrooms, or bell peppers to the meat sauce for added nutrition and flavor.
- Freezing and Reheating: Make Ahead: Million Dollar Baked Spaghetti freezes beautifully. Prepare the dish to the baking step, cover tightly, and freeze. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight, and bake as directed when ready to serve.
Million Dollar Baked Spaghetti Recipe Recipe Faq’s
Can I prepare Million Dollar Baked Spaghetti ahead of time? Yes, you can assemble the entire dish and refrigerate it until you’re ready to bake.
How can I make this dish healthier? To make Million Dollar Baked Spaghetti healthier, consider using whole wheat or legume-based pasta for added fiber, lean ground turkey or chicken instead of beef, and low-fat versions of the cheeses.
Serving Suggestions For Million Dollar Baked Spaghetti? This dish pairs wonderfully with a simple green salad dressed with a light vinaigrette and some crusty garlic bread or breadsticks. For a low-carb option, serve with roasted vegetables or a fresh medley.
Can I freeze Million Dollar Baked Spaghetti? Absolutely! This dish freezes well either before or after baking. If freezing before baking, cover the dish tightly with foil and freeze. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before baking as directed. If freezing after baking, slice into portions for easier reheating.
How long will leftovers last in the refrigerator? Leftover Million Dollar Baked Spaghetti will be kept for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
Can I use a different type of pasta? Yes, while spaghetti is traditional, you can use other types of pasta like penne, fusilli, or rigatoni.
Is it possible to make a vegetarian version? For a vegetarian version, omit the ground meat and add a rich mixture of sautéed vegetables (like bell peppers, mushrooms, spinach, and onions) to your marinara sauce.
Can I add extra cheese? If you’re a cheese lover, feel free to add extra cheese to the top layer or incorporate additional varieties of cheese within the layers for more complexity in flavor.
Why does my baked spaghetti come out watery? If your baked spaghetti is watery, it could be due to excess moisture in the cheese mixture or from the pasta not being drained well.
How can I add more flavor to the meat sauce? To enhance the flavor of the meat sauce, consider sautéing the garlic and onions until they’re caramelized before adding the meat.
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Million Dollar Baked Spaghetti
Description
Ingredients
- 1 lb spaghetti
- 1 lb ground beef , or Italian sausage
- 24 oz marinara sauce
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 eggs
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley or basil for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Cook the spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente, drain, and set aside.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef or Italian sausage with the minced garlic, breaking the meat into small pieces as it cooks. Drain any excess grease.
- Stir the marinara sauce into the cooked meat. Add Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer the sauce for about 10 minutes to meld the flavors together.
- In a bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, cream cheese, sour cream, and eggs. Mix until smooth. This will be your creamy cheese layer.
- In a greased 9×13 inch baking dish, spread a thin layer of the meat sauce. Follow with a layer of cooked spaghetti. Over the spaghetti, spread the cheese mixture evenly. Top with another layer of meat sauce. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese over the top.
- Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Then, remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and slightly golden.
- Let the baked spaghetti stand for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley or basil if desired. Serve hot and enjoy the rich, comforting layers of flavor.
Equipment
- 9×13 Baking Dish, or Casserole Dish
- Cooking Spray
- Aluminum Foil
Nutrition
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