Million-dollar spaghetti might not literally be worth a million dollars, but it’s definitely worth its weight in gold!
Meaty, cheesy, and saucy, it’s one comforting pasta dish. Plus, it’s easy, family-friendly, and light on your wallet.
Make it whenever you need a meal to impress!
Million-Dollar Spaghetti
Million-dollar spaghetti is a mouth-watering pasta casserole that perfectly blends the best of lasagna and spaghetti.
It’s overflowing with a beefy tomato sauce, tender spaghetti, tangy sour cream, and a heaping of cheese!
Rich, hearty, creamy, and savory, it tastes like a million bucks!
It captures all the flavors of lasagna, but with easier assembly. So go on, make any night special with this lavish casserole recipe.
Ingredients
What’s the secret to making spaghetti taste like a million bucks? All of the following ingredients:
- Spaghetti: The base of this dish. For the best results, cook it al dente.
- Ground beef: The main source of protein. It makes the sauce extra savory and hearty. For less fat, use lean ground beef.
- Aromatics and spices: Salt, pepper, garlic, onion, and green onion are what I use. Together, they enhance this dish and make it irresistible.
- Spaghetti sauce: The sauce brings all the flavors together. For convenience, a store-bought sauce is great. Homemade tomato sauce works too.
- Cream cheese: To add creaminess and richness to the dish.
- Sour cream: Adds a nice tang and extra creaminess
- Ricotta cheese: To make the sauce extra creamy and delicious.
- Shredded cheese: Monterey jack and cheddar are best. These two kinds of cheese provide a great balance of flavor. Plus, they melt well.
How to Make Million-Dollar Spaghetti
Are you ready to make this million-dollar spaghetti? Let’s get started!
1. Cook the pasta. Cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside.
2. Make the sauce. Cook the ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium-high heat, about 6-8 minutes. Drain any excess grease. Stir in the spaghetti sauce, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
3. Make the creamy layer. In a small bowl, mix together cream cheese, ricotta, and sour cream. Fold in sliced green onions, reserving some for garnish.
4. Assemble the dish. In a 11×7 inch baking dish, layer the spaghetti. Next, spread the ricotta mixture evenly on top. Add the meat sauce and sprinkle shredded cheese on top.
5. Bake. Cover the dish with foil. Bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 5-10 minutes. The cheese should be bubbling.
6. Garnish and serve. Sprinkle the reserved green onions on top. Serve the dish while hot.
Recipe Variations
Take your spaghetti game to the next level with these delicious recipe variations:
- Try other meats. Ground turkey, sausage, or even shrimp would add a new flavor twist. Or, make it vegetarian with plant-based meat crumbles.
- Add different vegetables. Bell peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, or spinach would all be delicious. Pick your favorite and add it to the sauce.
- Mix up the cheese. Any type of melty cheese works great. Mozzarella, provolone, or even blue cheese are some ideas. You can also try different cream cheese flavors, such as herb or smoked cream cheese.
- Add herbs and spices. They give the sauce extra depth. Oregano, basil, or red pepper flakes are a few of my favorites.
- Use a different type of pasta. Penne, rigatoni, or even gnocchi will work. They each add a unique texture that pairs wonderfully with the sauce.
- Add more crunch. A crushed cracker or breadcrumb topping adds another layer of texture.
- Make it gluten-free. Just use gluten-free spaghetti noodles and gluten-free crackers or breadcrumbs.
- Kick up the heat. Make a spicy version by adding hot sauce or chili flakes to the sauce.
How to Store Million-Dollar Spaghetti
One of the best things about million-dollar spaghetti is that it’s a great make-ahead dish.
You can easily assemble it in advance. When you’re ready to eat, just bake.
Here’s how to make ahead, store, and freeze this delicious casserole:
To Store: For leftovers, store them in an air-tight container. Refrigerate for up to 3 days. For make ahead, assemble the casserole in a baking dish and cover it tightly with foil. Refrigerate it for up to 24 hours before baking.
To Freeze: Assemble the unbaked spaghetti casserole in a disposable foil pan. Tightly cover with plastic wrap and foil. Freeze for up to 1 month.
To Reheat: For leftovers, reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes. For unbaked casserole, bake according to the directions. Add a few extra minutes to the baking time for the refrigerated casserole.
To Thaw: Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight.
More Pasta Recipes You’ll Love
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Million-Dollar Spaghetti (Easy Casserole Recipe)
6
servings20
minutes1
hour10
minutesThis million-dollar spaghetti will make you feel like a million bucks! Loaded with ground beef, noodles, tomato sauce, and cheese, it’s a hearty dinner the family will devour.
Ingredients
8 ounces dry spaghetti
1 pound ground beef
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
14 ounces spaghetti sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
3 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese, softened
1 cup reduced-fat ricotta cheese
1 cup reduced-fat sour cream
3 green onions, sliced (reserve some for garnish)
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar-Monterey jack cheese blend
Instructions
- Cook the spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente, then drain it and set it aside.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef, diced onion, and minced garlic until the beef is no longer pink and the onion is translucent, about 6-8 minutes. Drain excess grease.
- Stir in the spaghetti sauce, salt, and pepper, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer it for 20 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly spray an 11×7-inch baking dish. In a small bowl, mash together the cream cheese, ricotta, and sour cream. Fold in the sliced green onions, reserving some for garnish.
- Spread the cooked spaghetti evenly in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Top it with the ricotta mixture, spreading it evenly. Pour the beef mixture over the cheese layer. Sprinkle shredded cheese on top.
- Cover it with foil and bake it for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake it for an additional 5-10 minutes until the cheese is bubbling and beginning to brown.
- Sprinkle the reserved green onions on top and serve it while hot. Enjoy!
This dish got rave reviews! Used whole wheat pasta.