Easy Million Dollar Baked Spaghetti Recipe (Best Comfort Food Dinner!)
This million dollar spaghetti recipe will WIN you dinnertime and entertaining!
Looking for a dinner idea that everyone will LOVE? This cheesy, gooey, comforting baked million dollar spaghetti will not disappoint! I love how creamy the noodles turn out with the winning combination of meaty marinara sauce and cream cheese, and the top has a cheesy layer of melted mozzarella that’s irresistible.
Even my kids are usually picky about casseroles, but they loved this million dollar spaghetti meal!
Visual learner? Watch my how-to video:
Extra tips for preparing million dollar spaghetti:
- This recipe is highly adaptable to taste. For instance, I used Italian sausage, but you can use ground beef or chicken, or perhaps use more veggies instead of meat. Cottage cheese can be used instead of ricotta cheese, or maybe even goat cheese would be yummy!
- Why didn’t we use the entire box of pasta? Even though this recipe showcases spaghetti noodles as the star of the show, during our recipe testing, we found that using a full pound of spaghetti noodles was actually too much. 3/4 of the box is the sweet spot!
- You can compile this a day ahead of time, cover it in the fridge, and then stick it in the oven 35 minutes before you want to eat.
- This makes a wonderful freezer meal idea as it’s easy to compile and freeze the assembled casserole to make at a later date. When ready to bake, let the casserole thaw in the fridge overnight, then come to room temperature on the counter for 30 minutes before popping in the oven.
Million Dollar Baked Spaghetti Casserole
yield: 8 SERVINGS
prep time: 30 MINUTES
cook time: 35 MINUTES
total time: 1 HOUR 5 MINUTES
Here's a hearty cheese and meat sauce casserole that's filling, and so full of yummy tomato basil flavor!
Ingredients
- 3/4 pound dried spaghetti noodles
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, shredded
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
- 8 oz. ricotta cheese
- 24 oz. jar of marinara sauce
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Directions
1
Heat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a large 3-quart casserole dish.
2
Cook spaghetti to al dente, meaning the noodles are cooked, yet still a bit firm. Put the noodles back in the pot after draining them.
3
In a medium-sized bowl, combine the eggs, parmesan cheese, and chopped basil. Whisk for a minute until smooth. Pour this mixture over the cooked spaghetti noodles, along with the butter, and mix until well coated.
4
Transfer the noodles from the pot to the casserole dish.
5
Add the ricotta and cream cheese to the pot and melt on medium heat, while stirring with a spoon. Stir until the mixture is smooth. Pour the melted cheese over the noodles in the casserole dish and smooth it out over the noodles.
6
Add the onion, garlic, bell pepper, and crumble the Italian sausage in the same skillet on the stove. Cook over medium heat until the veggies are tender and meat is cooked. Drain the grease if needed.
7
Add the marinara sauce and stir in the sour cream. Mix well, and then pour the meat sauce over the casserole and smooth out in an even layer.
8
Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over the top of the casserole evenly. Place in the preheated oven for about 35-40 minutes until cheese is bubbly and slightly browned.
9
Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Top with additional fresh basil and serve.
Additional Notes
Recipe adapted from BettyCrocker.com
Spaghetti night just got upgraded times a million!
This hearty casserole turns out bubbly and cheesy, and so darn good. I love the ricotta cream cheese combo and fresh basil. It really does make a large batch, and if you have leftovers, they will also be delicious warmed up the next day.
Looks yummy!
It is SO good! 🍝😋 Hope you love it too if you decide to try it!
Could this be doubled? How would that work with the noodles? Two 3/4 boxes? Large family and ravenous teens over this way! 😂 Looks and sounds amazing!
Glad this recipe caught your eye, and good question, Materof6! 💗 You should be able to double this recipe, and use 1½ pounds of spaghetti noodles—as well as doubling the other ingredients too. Enjoy!