Description
Get ready for the ultimate comfort food: Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole. With layers of al dente pasta, creamy cheese filling, savory meat sauce, and a melty golden top, it’s a dish that brings rich flavor with minimal effort. This easy dinner recipe is perfect for meal prep, cozy family meals, or even freezing for later. Whether you’re looking for quick dinner ideas, hearty casseroles, or food ideas for entertaining, this one’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. A true comfort classic with a creamy twist.
Ingredients
16 oz spaghetti noodles
1 lb ground beef
8 oz cream cheese (softened)
1 cup ricotta cheese or cottage cheese
3 cups marinara sauce
2 tablespoons butter (for greasing and pasta)
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter.
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti until just al dente, drain, and toss with 1 tablespoon of butter.
3. In a skillet, cook ground beef over medium heat until browned. Drain excess grease. Stir in marinara sauce and Italian seasoning. Simmer for 5–10 minutes.
4. In a mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, ricotta (or cottage cheese), and a pinch of salt and pepper. Stir until smooth.
5. Layer half of the spaghetti into the baking dish. Spread the cheese mixture evenly over the noodles. Add the remaining spaghetti on top.
6. Pour the meat sauce over the entire dish, spreading evenly to cover all the pasta.
7. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheese generously over the top.
8. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 10–15 minutes until cheese is golden and bubbly.
9. Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
Don’t overcook the spaghetti—al dente noodles hold up better during baking.
Use full-fat cream cheese for the richest flavor and texture.
Let the casserole rest before serving to avoid a runny cut.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 530
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 790mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: easy dinner, spaghetti casserole, creamy pasta bake, million dollar spaghetti, comfort food casserole