Here’s a classic Million Dollar Spaghetti recipe — a rich, creamy, cheesy baked pasta casserole that’s hearty enough for family dinners, potlucks, or any comfort‑food craving. (Food Network)
🍝 Million Dollar Spaghetti (Serves ~8–10)
Ingredients
Pasta & Sauce
- 1 lb (450 g) spaghetti noodles (cooked al dente)
- 2 × 24 oz jars marinara sauce
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 8 oz ground beef
- 8 oz sweet Italian sausage (or substitute more beef)
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt & pepper to taste (Food Network)
Creamy Cheese Layer
- 16 oz ricotta cheese (about 2 cups)
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup grated Parmesan
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped (optional) (Food Network)
Topping
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella
- Extra Parmesan for sprinkling (Food Network)
🥣 How to Make It
- Prep & Oven:
Preheat oven to 350 °F (175 °C) and lightly grease a 9×13‑inch baking dish. (Food Network) - Cook Spaghetti:
Boil the spaghetti until just al dente; drain and toss with a couple tablespoons of marinara so it doesn’t stick. (Food Network) - Make the Meat Sauce:
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium‑high.
- Add ground beef and sausage; cook until browned.
- Stir in onion and garlic; sauté until softened.
- Pour in the rest of the marinara sauce, season with salt & pepper, and simmer briefly. (Food Network)
- Cheese Mixture:
In a bowl, mix ricotta, cream cheese, Parmesan, egg, parsley, and a pinch of salt & pepper until smooth. (Food Network) - Layer the Casserole:
- Spread 1 cup marinara on the bottom of the baking dish.
- Add half the spaghetti in an even layer.
- Spread the cheese mixture over the pasta.
- Add the remaining spaghetti.
- Top with the meat sauce and then mozzarella + extra Parmesan. (Food Network)
- Bake:
Bake uncovered until bubbly and golden on top, about 45–55 minutes. Let rest ~10 minutes before serving. (Food Network)
🍽️ Serving Tips & Variations
- Herbs: Sprinkle fresh basil or parsley before serving for color and aroma. (Food Network)
- Cheese Swap: Use cottage cheese instead of ricotta for a slightly lighter texture. (amandascookin.com)
- Meat Choices: You can use all ground beef, all Italian sausage, or a mix for varied flavor. (amandascookin.com)
Million Dollar Spaghetti is comfort food at its best — the creamy cheese layer makes it rich, while the meat sauce keeps it hearty. (Food Network)
Would you like a simplified printable version (with ingredient amounts scaled for 4 or 6 servings)?
Here’s a classic Million Dollar Spaghetti recipe — a rich, creamy, cheesy baked pasta casserole that’s hearty enough for family dinners, potlucks, or any comfort‑food craving. (Food Network)
🍝 Million Dollar Spaghetti (Serves ~8–10)
Ingredients
Pasta & Sauce
- 1 lb (450 g) spaghetti noodles (cooked al dente)
- 2 × 24 oz jars marinara sauce
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 8 oz ground beef
- 8 oz sweet Italian sausage (or substitute more beef)
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt & pepper to taste (Food Network)
Creamy Cheese Layer
- 16 oz ricotta cheese (about 2 cups)
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup grated Parmesan
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped (optional) (Food Network)
Topping
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella
- Extra Parmesan for sprinkling (Food Network)
🥣 How to Make It
- Prep & Oven:
Preheat oven to 350 °F (175 °C) and lightly grease a 9×13‑inch baking dish. (Food Network) - Cook Spaghetti:
Boil the spaghetti until just al dente; drain and toss with a couple tablespoons of marinara so it doesn’t stick. (Food Network) - Make the Meat Sauce:
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium‑high.
- Add ground beef and sausage; cook until browned.
- Stir in onion and garlic; sauté until softened.
- Pour in the rest of the marinara sauce, season with salt & pepper, and simmer briefly. (Food Network)
- Cheese Mixture:
In a bowl, mix ricotta, cream cheese, Parmesan, egg, parsley, and a pinch of salt & pepper until smooth. (Food Network) - Layer the Casserole:
- Spread 1 cup marinara on the bottom of the baking dish.
- Add half the spaghetti in an even layer.
- Spread the cheese mixture over the pasta.
- Add the remaining spaghetti.
- Top with the meat sauce and then mozzarella + extra Parmesan. (Food Network)
- Bake:
Bake uncovered until bubbly and golden on top, about 45–55 minutes. Let rest ~10 minutes before serving. (Food Network)
🍽️ Serving Tips & Variations
- Herbs: Sprinkle fresh basil or parsley before serving for color and aroma. (Food Network)
- Cheese Swap: Use cottage cheese instead of ricotta for a slightly lighter texture. (amandascookin.com)
- Meat Choices: You can use all ground beef, all Italian sausage, or a mix for varied flavor. (amandascookin.com)
Million Dollar Spaghetti is comfort food at its best — the creamy cheese layer makes it rich, while the meat sauce keeps it hearty. (Food Network)
Would you like a simplified printable version (with ingredient amounts scaled for 4 or 6 servings)?
