Description
Million Dollar Spaghetti is a comforting baked pasta dish featuring layers of flavorful ground beef in marinara sauce, creamy cheese mixture, and tender spaghetti, all topped with melted mozzarella for a rich, hearty meal perfect for family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Sauce
- Cooking spray
- 1/2 cup finely diced onion
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, divided
- 3 cups marinara sauce, divided
Pasta
- 1 pound spaghetti
- Kosher salt, to taste (for pasta water)
Cheese Mixture
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Remaining 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prepare baking dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Brown the meat: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef with the diced onion and minced garlic until the beef is browned and the onion is soft. Drain any excess grease from the skillet. Season the meat mixture with 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning and stir in 2 cups of marinara sauce. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti until it is slightly undercooked, about 3 minutes less than the package’s al dente recommendation. Drain the spaghetti and immediately toss it with 1 cup of marinara sauce to keep it moist and flavorful.
- Mix the cheeses: In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, ricotta cheese, garlic powder, and the remaining 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning. Mix until smooth and well blended.
- Assemble the layers: In the prepared baking dish, spread half of the spaghetti as the first layer. Dollop and evenly spread the cheese mixture over the spaghetti. Then add the remaining spaghetti on top. Pour the prepared meat sauce evenly over the top layer. Finally, sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly across the top.
- Bake the casserole: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes, or until the cheese on top is melted and golden brown.
- Optional broiling step: For a crispier, browned top, broil the casserole for 2 to 3 minutes after baking. Watch carefully to prevent burning.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and serve the Million Dollar Spaghetti hot and fresh for a delicious, satisfying meal.
Notes
- Under-cooking the spaghetti slightly ensures it finishes cooking perfectly in the oven without becoming mushy.
- Use softened cream cheese to make mixing easier and ensure a smooth cheese layer.
- Broiling is optional but adds a lovely golden, crispy top to the casserole.
- Feel free to substitute ground beef with ground turkey or sausage for different flavor variations.
- This dish can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated before baking; increase baking time slightly if baking directly from cold.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
