Description
Indulgent Million Dollar Spaghetti brings Italian-American comfort to dinner tables with its rich, cheesy layers of pasta perfection. Creamy cheese and hearty meat sauce meld together, creating a luxurious casserole you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 1 lb spaghetti noodles
- 16 oz pasta
Meat and Protein:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 lb Italian sausage
Dairy and Cheese:
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
Sauce and Seasonings:
- 24 oz marinara sauce
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
Topping:
- 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
Herbs:
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley (chopped)
Other Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup butter
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and generously butter a large baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Cook spaghetti in salted boiling water until al dente, typically 8-10 minutes, then drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, brown ground beef and Italian sausage over medium-high heat, breaking meat into small crumbles.
- Add minced garlic to the meat mixture and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Stir marinara sauce into the cooked meat, incorporating Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper.
- In a separate mixing bowl, blend cream cheese, sour cream, and grated parmesan until smooth and creamy.
- Layer half the cooked spaghetti in the prepared baking dish, then spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the pasta.
- Cover the cream cheese layer with the remaining spaghetti noodles.
- Pour the meat sauce completely over the top layer of pasta, ensuring full coverage.
- Sprinkle shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheeses across the entire surface.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove foil and continue baking for an additional 10-15 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
- Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and serve hot.
Notes
- Perfectly cook pasta just to al dente to maintain a slight bite and prevent mushiness during baking.
- Use high-quality marinara sauce for rich flavor, or make homemade sauce for an elevated taste experience.
- Mix different ground meats like beef, sausage, or turkey for varied texture and depth of flavor.
- Prepare dish ahead of time by assembling and refrigerating, then bake when ready to serve, making it perfect for meal prep or busy weeknights.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 54 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg