Million Dollar Spaghetti
Million Dollar Spaghetti is a cheesy baked pasta dish with layers of sausage, marinara, and a creamy cheese filling. Perfect for family dinners, potlucks, or meal prep!
Ingredients
For the Pasta and Meat Sauce:
- 1 pound uncooked spaghetti
- 1 pound Italian sausage mild or spicy, casing removed
- 1/2 medium onion chopped
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional, for heat
- 2 24-ounce jars marinara sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the Cheese Layer:
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 8 ounces ricotta cheese
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
Instructions
Step 1: Preheat the Oven
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and move the rack to the top third. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray or olive oil.
Step 2: Prepare the Cheese Layer
- In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, ricotta, Parmesan, garlic powder, and oregano until smooth. Set aside.
Step 3: Cook the Pasta
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti until 2 minutes shy of al dente. Drain and return to the pot.
Step 4: Cook the Sausage
- In a skillet over medium-high heat, sauté sausage and onion until browned, about 10 minutes. Stir in garlic and red pepper flakes, cooking for 1 more minute. Drain excess fat.
Step 5: Combine with Sauce
- Add sausage mixture to the pot of pasta. Stir in marinara sauce until everything is evenly coated.
Step 6: Assemble the Casserole
- Spread half of the pasta-sauce mixture in the baking dish.
- Layer with the cheese mixture.
- Add the remaining pasta-sauce mixture.
- Top with mozzarella.
Step 7: Bake
- Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and broil for 2–3 minutes until golden and bubbly.
Step 8: Rest and Serve
- Let the casserole rest for 5–10 minutes before serving to allow the layers to set.