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Home » Recipes » Dinner » Pasta » Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole

Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole

Published on November 26, 2019, Updated December 22, 2020 by Jessy | 32 Comments

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Meet your new go-to pasta bake for a crowd: Million Dollar Spaghetti! Creamy, cheesy and full of great Italian flavor, this easy casserole dinner is a sure winner!

A slice of million dollar spaghetti on a plate.

Here’s another great pasta recipe to add to your favorite meals, like Pasta Al Forno, Pasta Pomodoro and Bangin’ Sausage and Peppers Pasta.

Million Dollar Spaghetti Recipe

If I’m being completely honest, I’m kind of a pasta purist. What I mean is that I grew up eating pasta with my Grandma’s sauce and that’s it. No Fettuccine Alfredo. No Penne Ala Vodka. Just pasta with a smooth red sauce and a meatball.

So the idea of adding something like cream cheese to pasta sort of horrified me at first – I’m pretty sure my Grandma is rolling over in her grave at the mere thought. But I try to keep an open mind, so I gave it a shot. As it turns out, this was a very good decision.

This baked spaghetti comes out irresistibly delicious. The cream cheese adds a delicious flavor and when mixed with ricotta, brings just the right amount of creaminess. This combined with a meaty sauce and plenty of melted cheese on top makes this Million Dollar Spaghetti a total crowd-pleaser.

A close of image of the inside of this million dollar spaghetti recipe in the pan.

How to Make Million Dollar Spaghetti

There are three steps of prep for the layers of this casserole. Ground beef, noodles, and cheese. Your sauce is another element, but that is combined with both the meat and noodles separately so it’s added in to both of those steps.

  1. Start by sauteing onions, garlic, and ground beef and once the beef is browned, drain it. I like to season the beef after it’s drained so you don’t lose all that great flavor. Then mix the beef with about 2/3 of the sauce. You can use a store bought jarred marinara, homemade marinara or spaghetti sauce.
  2. While the meat is cooking, cook spaghetti in boiling, salted water. I boil it about 3 minutes less than the package time for al dente. That way it’s easy to mix without having to worry about it getting overcooked as it bakes. Once it’s drained, mix the rest of the sauce with it.
  3. In another bowl, mix together cream cheese and Ricotta. Make sure the cream cheese is softened to room temperature so that it mixes evenly.

Assembly

Now it’s time to assemble your Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole! There are five layers to this recipe.

  1. Grease a 9″ x 13″ baking dish and spread half of the spaghetti noodles in an even layer.
  2. Spread the cheese mixture over the spaghetti.
  3. Top with an even layer of the remaining spaghetti.
  4. Top with the meat and sauce mixture.
  5. Then a ton of mozzarella cheese. I wrote this recipe so that the mozzarella cheese makes a nice, golden crust on top. If you’d prefer it to be more soft and stretchy you can always bake the spaghetti and then top it with mozzarella cheese 10 minutes before the cooking time is up.
  6. Bake uncovered for about 30 minutes and serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley or basil. Feel free to add some Parmesan cheese too if you like.

An overhead image of a pan of Million dollar spaghetti

Top Tips and Tricks

  • What kind of sauce is best to use? I like to use homemade marinara sauce, which I usually have in my freezer. You can also use your favorite jarred sauce.
  • How long will it last? This will be good for up to 3 days. Store, tightly covered, in the fridge and reheat portions in the microwave or the entire pan in the oven.
  • Can you freeze Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole? Freezing this dish after it’s been baked is not recommended, however, this a a great make ahead recipe! Use a disposable foil pan and freeze unbaked spaghetti casserole, tightly covered, until firm for up to 1 month. Thaw in the fridge overnight, then bake as directed.

An overhead image of a slice of baked spaghetti with a fork pulling the a cheesy, stretchy bite.

More delicious pasta recipes:

  • One Pot Pizza Pasta
  • Four Cheese Rigatoni
  • Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti
  • Pumpkin Alfredo
  • Baked Ravioli Casserole
  • Linguine with Clam Sauce
  • Italian Chicken Stew
  • Italian Sausage Bake
A close of image of the inside of this million dollar spaghetti recipe in the pan.

Million Dollar Spaghetti

Jessy
Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole is creamy, cheesy and full of flavor. A crowd-pleasing pasta bake, this easy dinner recipe is a winner!
4.88 from 8 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 40 mins
Total Time 50 mins
Course Dinner, Lunch or Dinner, Main, Main Course, Main Dish
Cuisine Italian
Servings 8 servings
Calories 593.01 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • Cooking spray
  • 1/2 cup finely diced onions
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, divided
  • 3 cups marinara sauce, divided
  • 1 pound spaghetti
  • Kosher salt, to taste (for the pasta water)
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 cups mozzarella cheese

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9" x 13" pan and set aside.
  • Spray a large saute pan with cooking spray and heat over medium high heat.
  • Add onion and saute for 3 minutes.
  • Add garlic and saute 1 more minute until fragrant.
  • Add ground beef and saute breaking up until browned.
  • Drain beef and return to pan. Season with 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning and mix well with 2 cups marinara sauce and set aside.
  • While the beef cooks, boil spaghetti in well salted water for 3 minutes less than the al dente time listed on the package.
  • Drain and return to the pot and mix well to combine with 1 cup marinara sauce. Set aside.
  • In a medium bowl combine cream cheese, ricotta cheese, garlic powder and remaining teaspoon of Italian seasoning. Mix well.
  • Place half the spaghetti in an even layer in the 9" x 13" pan.
  • Evenly spread the cheese mixture over the top of the spaghetti.
  • Place the remaining spaghetti in a single layer over the top of the cheese.
  • Spread the beef and sauce mixture evenly over the top of the spaghetti.
  • Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.
  • Bake for 30 minutes or until the top is golden brown. If you want it browner, broil for 2-3 minutes, but keep a close eye on it so the cheese doesn't burn. Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 593.01kcalCarbohydrates: 50.97gProtein: 30.68gFat: 29.51gSaturated Fat: 15.22gCholesterol: 107.54mgSodium: 815.18mgPotassium: 705.78mgFiber: 3.44gSugar: 6.74gVitamin A: 1113.17IUVitamin C: 6.78mgCalcium: 275.21mgIron: 3.39mg
Keyword million dollar spaghetti
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About Jessy

Jessy is a busy mom and wife. She blogs over at The Life Jolie, a place to talk about all things delicious, family-related and pretty.

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  1. Lina gil says

    February 25, 2021 at 10:09 am

    Hello, just I just made this and it’s in the oven ( I was cooking it for dinner) but didn’t notice that you have to serve it immediately. Can it be re-heated??

    Reply
    • Kristin Maxwell says

      February 25, 2021 at 10:11 am

      Yes, you can reheat. Cool it completely, cover it with foil and put it in the fridge. Take it out as your oven is reheating and bake it at 350 until it’s warmed through.

      Reply
  2. Jeff says

    February 22, 2021 at 9:17 am

    This is that rare recipe that satisfies all the picky eaters. It’s officially added to our dinner rotation for a busy family of 5. Thanks so much Kristin, fantastic recipe.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      February 23, 2021 at 12:15 am

      You are so welcome Jeff! Thanks for stopping by.

      Reply
  3. Sue says

    February 6, 2021 at 4:05 pm

    Delicious!!! Best baked spaghetti ever! Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      February 8, 2021 at 9:44 am

      You are so welcome Sue! Thanks for stopping by.

      Reply
  4. Heather says

    January 29, 2021 at 2:57 pm

    I love this!!! It’s sooo good. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      January 31, 2021 at 9:30 am

      You are so welcome Heather! Thanks for stopping by.

      Reply
  5. Rebecca says

    January 18, 2021 at 3:31 pm

    This sounds so good.

    Reply
  6. Kathy Garrett says

    January 12, 2021 at 5:51 am

    Can you use ground turkeyior chicken instead of beef?

    Reply
    • Kristin Maxwell says

      January 12, 2021 at 8:15 pm

      You absolutely can!

      Reply
  7. Tiffany says

    November 5, 2020 at 8:12 am

    Can I assemble this in the morning and bake later? Also what do you season the beef with after you drain…salt and pepper?

    Reply
    • Kristin Maxwell says

      November 5, 2020 at 10:52 pm

      Yes to both! You can make this ahead of time, just take it out of the fridge while you heat the oven. And season the meat with salt and pepper.

      Reply
  8. L. Rogers says

    October 26, 2020 at 3:26 pm

    I tried this but added mild bulk Italian sausage along with the ground beef. I also added mild cheddar cheese along with the mozzarella. It was excellent! The entire family loves it.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      October 30, 2020 at 9:03 am

      That’s awesome L. Rogers! Great feedback ! Thanks for stopping by.

      Reply
  9. TJ says

    October 1, 2020 at 3:40 pm

    My family loved it! Creamy, flavorful and a cheesy top — better than spaghetti! It is now on the frequently requested dinner list.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      October 5, 2020 at 8:32 am

      Nice! Thanks for stopping by TJ.

      Reply
  10. Charity says

    August 11, 2020 at 11:58 am

    Could you substitute cottage cheese for the ricotta? I feel like ricotta dries food out.

    Reply
    • Kristin Maxwell says

      August 11, 2020 at 10:27 pm

      Sure that would be an easy swap.

      Reply
  11. Pam says

    August 3, 2020 at 6:30 pm

    I was in a hurry so I used garlic & onion powder. A blended can of whole tomatoes. A little Sour cream instead of the white cheeses. I used Colby jack and pepper cheeses. After baking I sprinkled with olive oil and Louisiana hot sauce.
    Suggestions: make half the meat sausage.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      August 5, 2020 at 9:46 am

      Hi Pam, awesome feedback.
      Thanks for stopping by.

      Reply
  12. Jennifer Tibbs says

    July 29, 2020 at 4:44 pm

    This is soooo good. I added half a stick of butter cut up on top of the first layer of spaghetti and 1/4 cup of sour cream to the cream cheese mixture. I did sliced real mozzarella and shredded mozzarella on top. Definitely broil the last few minutes.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      July 31, 2020 at 12:01 pm

      Thank you Jennifer for the awesome feedback!

      Reply
  13. Kelly says

    July 27, 2020 at 11:37 am

    My husband was not a fan of the ricotta and cream cheese layer. I’d give it 4 stars

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      July 31, 2020 at 12:11 pm

      Hi Kelly, Thank you for the awesome feedback.

      Reply
  14. JJ Armstrong says

    May 17, 2020 at 11:16 am

    It has become my go to comfort food with the decadence of all the cheese. We use lentil pasta if you have a gluten sensitivity. Fresh ricotta is a game changer if you can get ahold of it during these uncertain times.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      May 20, 2020 at 10:51 pm

      Nice! Thanks for sharing your awesome feedback JJ.

      Reply
  15. Veronica says

    March 29, 2020 at 9:28 pm

    Hi could this be made vegetarian by omitting the meat or would it not work? Thanks in advance

    Reply
    • Kristin Maxwell says

      April 1, 2020 at 10:11 am

      Yes you could omit the meat. It still has cheese in it though.

      Reply
      • Veronica says

        April 1, 2020 at 10:13 am

        Thanks we’re vegetarian not vegan so cheese is great! Stay well.

        Reply
  16. Katie says

    December 19, 2019 at 5:26 pm

    What temp do we bake this at?

    Reply
    • Kristin Maxwell says

      December 23, 2019 at 8:57 am

      350 degrees.

      Reply

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Hi, I’m KRISTIN!

I'm a busy wife and mom who loves to cook, bake and create. All of the recipes and tips you will find here are created with your busy family (and mine!) in mind.

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