Description

Million Dollar Spaghetti is a decadent baked spaghetti casserole layered with a creamy cheese mixture and savory Italian sausage, smothered in marinara sauce and topped with melted mozzarella cheese. Perfect for family dinners, this comforting dish combines the richness of cream cheese, ricotta, and parmesan with the hearty flavors of browned Italian sausage and tender pasta baked to bubbly perfection.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta & Sauce

1 pound uncooked spaghetti
1 pound Italian sausage (ground or removed from casings)
1/2 medium onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
2 (24 ounce) jars marinara sauce
Salt & pepper to taste

Cheese Layer

8 ounces cream cheese (1 block, softened)
8 ounces ricotta cheese
1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (for topping)

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Instructions

Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F and place the oven rack in the top third position.
Prepare Cheese Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine softened cream cheese, ricotta cheese, grated parmesan, garlic powder, and dried oregano. Stir until smooth and set aside for layering.
Cook Pasta: Boil a large pot of salted water and cook the spaghetti 2 minutes less than the package directions. Drain the pasta and return it to the pot.
Cook Sausage and Onion: In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook the Italian sausage and chopped onion, breaking up the meat, until browned and cooked through, about 10 minutes.
Add Garlic and Seasoning: Stir minced garlic and optional red pepper flakes into the skillet and cook for about 1 minute. Spoon out any excess fat.
Combine Pasta, Meat, and Sauce: Add the sausage mixture back into the pot with the cooked spaghetti. Pour in the marinara sauce and toss with tongs or large spoons until everything is evenly coated.
Assemble Casserole: Spread half of the pasta and sauce mixture evenly in a 9×13 baking dish. Carefully spread the cheese layer over this pasta layer, then top with the remaining pasta mixture. Finish by sprinkling shredded mozzarella evenly on top.
Bake: Cover the casserole with foil and bake at 375°F for 30 minutes.
Broil for Finish: Remove the foil and broil for a few minutes, watching closely, until the mozzarella is bubbly and golden brown.
Rest and Serve: Let the casserole sit for 5-10 minutes before cutting into portions with a spatula. Season with salt and pepper if desired.

Notes

You can use either ground Italian sausage or remove the sausage meat from casings for cooking.
To quickly soften cream cheese, microwave it for 20-30 seconds.
The cheese layer can be customized by using different cheeses to your preference.
The cheese layer does not have to be perfectly even; it will blend slightly with the sauce and pasta during baking.
Photos and extra process tips are available in the original blog post and the Salt & Lavender: Everyday Essentials cookbook, page 46.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving (approximately 1/8 of casserole)
Calories: 550 kcal
Sugar: 8 g
Sodium: 780 mg
Fat: 30 g
Saturated Fat: 14 g
Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
Trans Fat: 0.5 g
Carbohydrates: 44 g
Fiber: 3 g
Protein: 25 g
Cholesterol: 70 mg