Million Dollar Spaghetti is a hearty baked pasta casserole with layers of tender spaghetti, rich meat sauce, creamy cheese filling and melted mozzarella. It combines the familiar flavor of spaghetti with the comforting texture of lasagna.
The casserole can be assembled in advance, making it ideal for family dinners, potlucks or delivering to someone who needs a prepared meal.
Serve it with garlic bread, Caesar salad or roasted vegetables for a complete Italian-American dinner.
Why You’ll Love This Spaghetti Casserole
- Rich, creamy and cheesy.
- Made with familiar ingredients.
- Feeds a large family.
- Easy to assemble ahead.
- Suitable for potlucks.
- Freezer-friendly.
- Uses affordable ground beef.
- Reheats well.
- Easy to customize.
- Perfect with salad and garlic bread.
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the Meat Sauce
- 1 pound lean ground beef.
- 1 small yellow onion, diced.
- 3 garlic cloves, minced.
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning.
- ½ teaspoon salt.
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper.
- 1 jar marinara sauce, 24 ounces.
- 1 can crushed tomatoes, 14–15 ounces.
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar, optional.
For the Pasta and Cheese Layers
- 16 ounces dry spaghetti.
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened.
- 1 cup whole-milk ricotta.
- ½ cup sour cream.
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese.
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley.
- 2½ cups shredded mozzarella, divided.
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened.
- Fresh basil or parsley, for garnish.
Ingredient Notes
Ground beef: Lean beef provides flavor without making the casserole greasy. Ground Italian sausage may replace half of the beef.
Marinara: Select a thick, flavorful sauce because it forms the main seasoning for the casserole.
Cream cheese: Soften it before mixing so the filling remains smooth.
Ricotta: Whole-milk ricotta creates a rich filling. Cottage cheese may be substituted for a lighter, slightly textured result.
Spaghetti: Cook it slightly less than the package directions because it continues softening in the oven.
Mozzarella: Low-moisture mozzarella melts well without releasing excessive liquid.
How to Make Million Dollar Spaghetti
Step 1: Prepare the Oven and Dish
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
Lightly grease a 9 × 13-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
Step 2: Make the Meat Sauce
Cook the ground beef and onion in a large skillet over medium-high heat for 7–8 minutes.
Break the beef into small pieces and cook until it reaches 160°F.
Drain excess grease.
Add the garlic, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Cook for 30 seconds.
Stir in the marinara, crushed tomatoes and optional sugar. Simmer for approximately 10 minutes.
Step 3: Cook the Spaghetti
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Cook the spaghetti for approximately 2 minutes less than the package’s al dente directions.
Drain thoroughly. Do not rinse.
Step 4: Prepare the Creamy Filling
In a medium bowl, combine:
- Softened cream cheese.
- Ricotta.
- Sour cream.
- Parmesan.
- Dried parsley.
- ½ cup mozzarella.
Mix until evenly combined.
Step 5: Begin Layering
Spread a thin layer of meat sauce across the baking dish.
Toss the drained spaghetti with the softened butter, then place half in the dish.
Spread the complete cream-cheese mixture over the pasta.
Step 6: Complete the Layers
Add the remaining spaghetti.
Pour the meat sauce evenly over the top, spreading it into the corners.
Sprinkle with the remaining 2 cups mozzarella.
Step 7: Bake
Cover the dish loosely with foil.
Bake for 20 minutes, then remove the foil and continue baking for 15–20 minutes.
The sauce should be bubbling and the cheese fully melted.
Broil for 1–2 minutes for additional browning, if desired.
Step 8: Rest and Serve
Let the casserole rest for at least 10 minutes.
Garnish with basil or parsley before cutting into portions.
Tips for the Best Baked Spaghetti
Undercook the Pasta Slightly
Fully cooked spaghetti can become overly soft during baking.
Drain the Beef
Excess fat can create an oily casserole and prevent the cheese layers from setting.
Soften the Cream Cheese
Cold cream cheese is difficult to spread and may leave lumps.
Use Thick Marinara
A watery sauce can prevent neat portions.
Rest Before Cutting
The layers become more stable after approximately 10 minutes.
Recipe Variations
Sausage Million Dollar Spaghetti
Replace half or all of the ground beef with mild Italian sausage.
Chicken Spaghetti Casserole
Use cooked shredded chicken and omit the beef-browning step.
Vegetable Baked Spaghetti
Replace the meat with mushrooms, zucchini, spinach and bell peppers.
Spicy Spaghetti Casserole
Add crushed red pepper flakes and use spicy Italian sausage.
Pepperoni Pizza Spaghetti
Add chopped pepperoni and a small amount of oregano.
What to Serve With Million Dollar Spaghetti
- Garlic bread.
- Homemade dinner rolls.
- Caesar salad.
- Roasted green beans.
- Garlic Parmesan Brussels sprouts.
- Steamed broccoli.
- Caprese salad.
Make-Ahead Instructions
Assemble the casserole up to one day before baking.
Cover tightly and refrigerate. Remove it from the refrigerator while the oven preheats.
A chilled casserole may require 10–15 additional minutes in the oven.
Storage and Reheating
Refrigerate cooled leftovers in an airtight container for 3–4 days.
Reheat covered portions in a 350°F oven or microwave individual servings until thoroughly hot.
Add a spoonful of marinara if the pasta appears dry.
Can You Freeze Million Dollar Spaghetti?
Yes. Assemble the casserole in a freezer-safe dish and cool all components before freezing.
Wrap securely and freeze for up to three months.
Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking. For the best texture, add the final mozzarella layer after thawing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called Million Dollar Spaghetti?
The name refers to its rich combination of meat sauce, cream cheese, ricotta, sour cream and melted mozzarella.
Can I use cottage cheese?
Yes. Small-curd cottage cheese can replace the ricotta.
Should I rinse the spaghetti?
No. Surface starch helps the sauce cling to the pasta.
Why is my casserole watery?
The sauce may have been too thin, the beef may not have been drained or the casserole may need additional resting time.
Can I use another pasta shape?
Yes. Penne, rigatoni and ziti work, although the final texture differs.
Can I make it without meat?
Yes. Use sautéed vegetables or a plant-based ground-meat alternative.
Million Dollar Spaghetti Recipe Card
Preparation time: 25 minutes
Cooking time: 35–40 minutes
Resting time: 10 minutes
Total time: Approximately 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 8–10
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian-American
Method: Baking
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and grease a 9 × 13-inch dish.
- Brown the beef and onion; drain excess grease.
- Add garlic and seasonings.
- Stir in marinara and crushed tomatoes; simmer for 10 minutes.
- Cook the spaghetti 2 minutes short of al dente.
- Mix the cream cheese, ricotta, sour cream, Parmesan, parsley and ½ cup mozzarella.
- Spread a small amount of meat sauce in the dish.
- Add half the buttered spaghetti.
- Spread the creamy cheese mixture over the pasta.
- Add the remaining spaghetti and meat sauce.
- Top with the remaining mozzarella.
- Cover and bake for 20 minutes.
- Uncover and bake for another 15–20 minutes.
- Rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Recipe Notes
- Slightly undercook the spaghetti.
- Drain the beef thoroughly.
- Use softened cream cheese.
- Add baking time when cooking directly from the refrigerator.
- Test the complete recipe before publishing the final cooking time and yield.