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A serving of cheesy baked spaghetti on a white plate, with melted cheese pulling and a visible layer of tomato sauce and meat.

Million Dollar Spaghetti Recipe

Bitty
This creamy, cheesy Million Dollar Spaghetti casserole is the perfect baked comfort food—layered with rich meat sauce, tender spaghetti, and luscious cheese. Easy to make ahead and great for feeding a crowd!
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Course Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine American, Italian
Servings 8 people
Calories 590 kcal

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • Large skillet
  • 9x13-inch baking dish
  • Mixing Bowls
  • Spatula or spoon
  • Aluminum foil

Ingredients
  

For the Pasta:

  • 1 lb spaghetti

For the Meat Sauce:

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1/2 lb Italian sausage optional
  • 1 medium onion diced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 jar 24 oz marinara or pasta sauce
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • Salt and pepper to taste

For the Cheese Mixture:

  • 8 oz cream cheese softened
  • 1 cup cottage cheese
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Other:

  • 2 tbsp butter for greasing dish
  • Extra mozzarella & Parmesan for topping

Instructions
 

  • Boil Pasta: Cook spaghetti in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
    Overhead view of cooked spaghetti noodles piled in a metal mesh strainer resting on a white marble surface.
  • Make Meat Sauce: Brown ground beef and sausage with diced onion in a large skillet. Drain fat. Add garlic, sauce, seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes.
  • Mix Cheese Layer: In a bowl, combine cream cheese, cottage cheese, ricotta, sour cream, mozzarella, and Parmesan. Mix well.
    Overhead view of various ingredients arranged on a white marble countertop, including uncooked spaghetti, ground meat, shredded cheese (two types), tomato sauce, and ricotta cheese in separate bowls.
  • Assemble: Butter a 9x13 baking dish. Layer half the pasta, then all the cheese mixture, then the rest of the pasta. Top with meat sauce and sprinkle extra cheese on top.
  • Bake: Cover with foil and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10 minutes until golden and bubbly.
    Overhead view of an oblong black baking dish filled with layers of spaghetti, meat sauce, and shredded cheese, ready for baking.
  • Rest & Serve: Let rest 10 minutes before serving for cleaner slices.

Notes

For extra flavor, add red pepper flakes to the sauce.
Letting the casserole rest helps it set for easier serving.
Easily made ahead and great for freezing!
Keyword baked spaghetti casserole, creamy spaghetti bake, million dollar spaghetti