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Million Dollar Spaghetti Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 69 reviews

A comforting and cheesy baked spaghetti casserole loaded with Italian sausage, marinara sauce, and a rich, creamy cheese layer. This Million Dollar Spaghetti is topped with melty mozzarella and baked until bubbly golden perfection, making it a perfect crowd-pleaser and hearty meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

  • 1 pound uncooked spaghetti
  • 1 pound Italian sausage (mild or hot)
  • 1/2 medium onion, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 2 (24 ounce) jars marinara sauce (6 cups total)
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • Salt & pepper to taste

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

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F and position the rack in the top third.
  2. Prepare Cheese Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, ricotta, parmesan, garlic powder, and oregano. Stir until smooth and set aside.
  3. Cook Pasta: Boil a large pot of salted water and cook spaghetti 2 minutes less than package instructions indicate. Drain and return pasta to the pot.
  4. Cook Sausage Mixture: In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook Italian sausage and chopped onion, breaking up the meat, for about 10 minutes until browned and cooked through. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes, cooking for another minute. Drain excess fat.
  5. Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the sausage mixture and marinara sauce to the pot with pasta. Toss with tongs or spoons until evenly coated.
  6. Assemble Casserole – Layer 1: Spread half of the pasta and sauce mixture evenly into a 9×13 baking dish.
  7. Cheese Layer: Spread the prepared cheese mixture evenly over the first layer of pasta. It does not have to be perfect.
  8. Assemble Casserole – Layer 2: Add the remaining pasta and sauce mixture on top of the cheese layer and spread evenly.
  9. Top with Mozzarella: Evenly sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese over the top.
  10. Bake: Cover the casserole with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
  11. Broil: Remove the foil and broil for a few minutes until the cheese is bubbly and browned, watching closely to prevent burning.
  12. Rest and Serve: Let the casserole rest for 5-10 minutes before cutting into portions. Season with additional salt and pepper if desired.

Notes

  • Use either ground sausage meat or remove the casing from sausages before cooking.
  • Soften cream cheese quickly by microwaving it for 20-30 seconds if needed.
  • Feel free to customize the cheese layer with different cheeses or herbs according to taste.
  • This recipe is featured in the Salt & Lavender: Everyday Essentials hardcover cookbook on page 46.
  • The casserole can be assembled a day ahead and refrigerated; add extra baking time when baking from chilled.
  • Freeze assembled casserole tightly covered for up to 3 months. Thaw 24 hours in fridge before baking or bake longer if cooking from frozen.
  • Do not put a frozen ceramic baking dish directly into the oven to prevent cracking.
  • Serve with cheesy garlic bread, crusty bread, breadsticks, or a fresh side salad with dressings like Caesar or Balsamic.
  • Leftovers keep well refrigerated for 1-2 days and can be reheated in microwave or on stovetop covered.

Keywords: million dollar spaghetti, baked spaghetti, pasta casserole, Italian sausage pasta, cheesy pasta bake, comfort food, baked pasta

Find it online: https://reemcook.com/million-dollar-spaghetti-recipe/