A comforting and indulgent pasta dish that's sure to please the whole family, this Easy Million Dollar Spaghetti features rich layers of tender pasta, smothered in a hearty tomato meat sauce, and topped with a creamy blend of cheeses.
Baked to perfection, this dish combines the satisfying flavors of a classic lasagna with the ease of a casserole, making it a go-to for weeknight dinners or special occasions. Each bite delivers a perfect balance of savory meat sauce, tender pasta, and a luscious, melty cheese layer that truly lives up to its name!
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This Easy Million Dollar Spaghetti is a delicious twist on two family favorite meals, spaghetti and lasagna! By combining the rich layered nature of cheesy lasagna with spaghetti pasta and creamy tomato meat sauce, this recipe takes these classic pasta dishes to a new level!
It transforms spaghetti into something new, taking inspiration from these taco spaghetti and ham tetrazzini recipes!
Think of this dish as a spaghetti casserole, made up of layers of spaghetti noodles, a blend of melted cheese, and a hearty meat sauce. It’s unbelievably flavorful, rich, and comforting, and is the perfect recipe for a family dinner or potluck. Get ready to indulge in this absolutely mouthwatering baked million dollar spaghetti!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Comfort food - Combining the two beloved comfort dishes of lasagna and spaghetti into one, this delicious million dollar spaghetti is the ultimate comfort meal.
- Serves a crowd - Whether you make this dish for a family dinner or for a potluck, this recipe is easy to transport and great for serving a crowd.
- Family favorite - Who doesn’t love spaghetti or lasagna? And when you combine the two, it gets even better! The whole family is guaranteed to enjoy this delicious dinner recipe!
- Rich and flavorful - The blend of different cheeses along with the tender ground beef and tomato sauce in layers of pasta creates a rich and filling meal with a plethora of amazing flavors.
Ingredients
Gather the ingredients below to make this million dollar spaghetti recipe!
- Spaghetti noodles are the perfect base for this dish. They hold the flavors of the meat sauce and cheese blend and make sure that every bite is full of flavor.
- Ground beef adds a savory, rich flavor and texture that enhances the spaghetti sauce and takes it to another level.
- Cream cheese makes this recipe perfectly creamy and smooth when blended with the other cheeses.
- Sour cream adds some tanginess and thickness to the cheese blend. It also brings out the flavors of the other ingredients. I love to use sour cream in this cheddar and broccoli noodle recipe, too!
- Cottage cheese brings some good texture and creaminess to the dish, as well as a nice tangy, yet slightly sweet flavor.
- Mozzarella cheese when freshly shredded or sliced is an absolute staple in this recipe! It’s melty, gooey, and perfectly cheesy.
See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
- Feel free to use your favorite pasta if you don't want to use spaghetti. Some other great pasta options are rigatoni, penne, or ziti like I use in my baked ziti recipe.
- Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top of the spaghetti for even more flavor.
- You can use ricotta cheese in place of cottage cheese if preferred.
- Try different meats or use half of one kind and half of another. You can try this recipe with sausage, ground pork, ground chicken, or ground turkey. It’s all about finding what tastes and works best for you! If you're a turkey fan, this turkey tetrazzini is always a family favorite in the Fall!
- Use different variations of spaghetti sauce for extra flavor.
How to Make the Best Million Dollar Spaghetti
Once you've gathered all of your ingredients, preheat oven to 350ºF, prepare the spaghetti to al dente following the instructions on the box and follow the steps below.
- Step 1: In a medium skillet, cook onions and garlic over medium heat, stirring often for about 5 minutes until the onions become transparent, then add the ground beef and cook until no pink remains, drain the excess fat, and stir in the spaghetti sauce before setting aside.
- Step 2: In a medium mixing, combine cream cheese, sour cream, and cottage cheese until uniform.
- Step 3: Slice the stick of butter into thin slices. Place half of them in the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- Step 4: Add half of your spaghetti noodles over top.
- Step 5: Spread cream cheese mixture over top of noodles.
- Step 6: Add remaining noodles over top of cream cheese mixture. Place remaining slices of butter on top of noodles.
- Step 7: Next, spread ground beef mixture over top. Bake for 30 minutes.
- Step 8: Remove from oven, sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over top. Bake for an additional 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and slightly golden brown.
Helpful Tips
- Undercook the pasta slightly by boiling the spaghetti just until al dente or even slightly under, as it will continue cooking in the oven and help prevent it from becoming too soft or mushy.
- Be sure to layer the ingredients carefully, and to not overmix. This will ensure that the dish has structure and won't be too mushy or lose its layered effect when serving.
- Cover with foil to prevent over-browning if the top starts to brown too quickly while baking, which will ensure an evenly baked dish without over-crisping the top.
- After it is done baking, let the dish sit for around 15 minutes so that the flavors can meld together. Letting it cool down for a few minutes will also make it easier to slice.
- Using fresh, quality ingredients is the easiest way to guarantee the best flavors!
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can use ground turkey, chicken, or even a meat substitute instead of ground beef. Adjust the cooking time as needed based on the type of meat used.
Yes, you can use a mix of cheeses such as mozzarella, ricotta, cream cheese, and Parmesan. Experimenting with different cheeses can enhance the flavor and texture of the dish.
Yes! This recipe can be made one day ahead of time. After it is done baking in step 13, let the dish cool, and then store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator until you are ready to top with cheese and finish baking.
Because this recipe is so rich, it pairs great with lighter salads, vegetables, or homemade bread.
Storage & Freezing Instructions
Storage Instructions
To store leftovers of your spaghetti, place in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. Then, when ready to eat, reheat in the microwave or oven.
Freezing Instructions
This recipe can be stored in a freezer safe container in the freezer for up to a month. Let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
More Hearty Family Meals You'll Love
Looking for other comfort recipes like this? Try these:
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Easy Million Dollar Spaghetti
Ingredients
- 16 ounces spaghetti
- 1 medium onion (diced)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 pound of ground beef
- 24 ounce jar of spaghetti sauce
- 8 ounces cream cheese (softened)
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- ½ cup butter (divided)
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- Garnish with fresh parsley
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF.
- Prepare spaghetti to al dente according to package directions.
- In a medium skillet, cook onions and garlic over medium heat, stirring often. Cook for 5 minutes or until onions become transparent.
- Add ground beef to skillet and continue cooking until no pink remains. Drain excess fat.
- Add the spaghetti sauce to the hamburger mixture in the skillet. Set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, and cottage cheese until uniform.
- Slice the stick of butter into thin slices. Place half of them in the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- Add half of your spaghetti noodles over top.
- Spread cream cheese mixture over top of noodles.
- Add remaining noodles over top of cream cheese mixture.
- Place remaining slices of butter on top of noodles.
- Next, spread ground beef mixture over top.
- Bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove from oven, sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over top. Bake for an additional 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and slightly golden brown.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and enjoy!
Notes
- Undercook the pasta slightly by boiling the spaghetti just until al dente or even slightly under, as it will continue cooking in the oven and help prevent it from becoming too soft or mushy.
- Be sure to layer the ingredients carefully, and to not overmix. This will ensure that the dish has structure and won't be too mushy or lose its layered effect when serving.
- You can cover the pan with foil to prevent over-browning if the top starts to brown too quickly while baking, which will ensure an evenly baked dish without over-crisping the top.
- After it is done baking, let the dish sit for around 15 minutes so that the flavors can meld together. Letting it cool down for a few minutes will also make it easier to slice.
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