The Best Million Dollar Spaghetti
This Million Dollar Spaghetti casserole is just about the best thing I’ve ever eaten! It combines the comfort of traditional spaghetti and steps it up a notch. It’s creamy, savory, and is the ultimate comfort food.
Baked Million Dollar Spaghetti may look complicated, but I swear it’s just as easy as whipping up your favorite homemade spaghetti recipe. Just with a few extra steps to create the layers.
Table of Contents
Note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you buy from my link I might make a small commission. This does not affect the price you pay. See the full affiliate disclosure here.
What is Million Dollar Spaghetti
Million Dollar Spaghetti is like a combination of spaghetti and lasagna. Spaghetti is layered into a casserole dish and baked in the oven to produce this amazing meal.
Million Dollar Spaghetti Layers
The layers of a Million Dollar Spaghetti can vary from recipe to recipe. So, I’ll just be breaking down the layers you’ll find here in this recipe. Let’s break down the four layers in this spaghetti.
Layer One
Cooked spaghetti noodles and alfredo sauce are combined for the bottom layer.
Layer Two
Cream cheese, ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese, and sour cream make up the creamy cheese layer that sits atop the alfredo sauce and spaghetti.
Layer Three
Another layer of alfredo spaghetti noodles.
Layer Four
This fourth layer is where you’ll find everything in a typical spaghetti meat sauce. Italian sausage, onion, garlic, a jar of spaghetti sauce, and Italian seasonings are combined in this section of the casserole.
Layer Five
This final layer is the mozzarella cheese topping. I use fresh mozzarella for a luxuriously melty top layer.
How to Make Million Dollar Spaghetti
Let’s take a look at how these layers are put together. We’ll start with what ingredients you’ll need and how to assemble everything.
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make Million Dollar Spaghetti along with some common substitutions and notes.
- Spaghetti noodles
- Alfredo sauce – use a jar or your favorite homemade recipe
- Italian sausage – use hot or mild per your preference. You can also substitute ground beef here.
- Yellow onion
- Minced garlic – you can use garlic powder if you don’t have fresh garlic on hand.
- Spaghetti sauce – use a jar or your favorite homemade recipe.
- Italian seasoning
- Parsley flakes
- Cream cheese
- Ricotta cheese – you can substitute cottage cheese for ricotta.
- Parmesan cheese
- Sour cream
- Mozzarella cheese
- Fresh basil – this is optional, but really adds a pop of fresh flavor.
Instructions
Step One
Preheat the oven to 350? and grease a 9×13” baking dish.
Step Two
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add the spaghetti noodles. Cook the noodles per the package directions until they are “al dente”.
Tip: the noodles should be fairly firm since they are going to cook longer in the oven. If they are boiled too long, they will not hold up well.
Step Three
Once the noodles are cooked, drain them and return them to the pot. Pour the jar of alfredo sauce over the noodles and mix until the noodles are coated. Set the noodles aside for later.
Step Four
Brown and crumble the sausage in a large skillet over medium heat until the sausage has cooked through.
Step Five
Drain any excess grease from the sausage and then add the garlic and onion to the pan. Cook for three minutes and then remove from heat.
Step Six
Add the jar of spaghetti sauce, Italian seasoning, and parsley flakes to the meat and stir to combine.
Step Seven
In a large bowl, mix together the cream cheese, ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese, and sour cream.
Tip: the cream cheese will need to be room temperature or softened in the microwave for about 30 seconds prior to mixing it.
Step Eight
Assemble the layers:
- Add half of the alfredo spaghetti noodles to the bottom of the 9×13” baking dish in an even layer.
- Spread the cream cheese mixture in an even layer over the spaghetti noodles.
- Add the remaining half of the alfredo spaghetti noodles over the cream cheese mixture in an even layer.
- Spread the meat mixture in an even layer over the spaghetti noodles.
- Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over the top of the meat layer.
Step Nine
Bake in the oven for 30-40 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the liquids are bubbling.
Step Ten
Remove from the oven and let sit for about 15 minutes before cutting into to preserve the layers. Or you can serve right away, but the layers may not be as defined.
Optional: Top with fresh, chopped basil before serving.
How to Store Leftover Baked Million Dollar Spaghetti
One of the best things about this recipe is that it’s just as good, if not better, the second day. This is a recipe you can make and eat for a few days since it has so many servings and reheats so well.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Simply reheat single portions in the microwave or reheat the leftovers in a baking dish in the oven until heated through.
You can freeze Million Dollar Spaghetti before or after baking it. Make sure it’s covered tightly in a freezer-safe container and store it in the freezer for up to three months.
Other Recipes
You may also like these recipes:
Ground Beef and Mushroom Casserole
Cheesy Sausage Egg and Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole
Million Dollar Spaghetti
Equipment
- 1 9×13" baking dish
- Oven
Ingredients
- 16 ounces spaghetti noodles
- 16 ounces one can alfredo sauce
- 2 pounds ground Italian sausage
- ½ yellow onion chopped
- 1 tablespoon or 3 cloves minced garlic
- 24 ounces one can spaghetti sauce
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon parsley flakes
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup parmesan cheese
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese
- Chopped basil for garnish optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350? and grease a 9×13” baking dish.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add the spaghetti noodles. Cook the noodles per the package directions until they are “al dente”. Tip: the noodles should be fairly firm since they are going to cook longer in the oven. If they are boiled too long, they will not hold up well.
- Once the noodles are cooked, drain them and return them to the pot. Pour the jar of alfredo sauce over the noodles and mix until the noodles are coated. Set the noodles aside for later.
- Brown and crumble the sausage in a large skillet over medium heat until the sausage has cooked through.
- Drain any excess grease from the sausage and then add the garlic and onion to the pan. Cook for three minutes and then remove from heat
- Add the jar of spaghetti sauce, Italian seasoning, and parsley flakes to the meat and stir to combine.
- In a large bowl, mix together the cream cheese, ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese, and sour cream.
- Assemble the layers: 1. Add half of the alfredo spaghetti noodles to the bottom of the 9×13” baking dish in an even layer. 2. Spread the cream cheese mixture in an even layer over the spaghetti noodles. 3. Add the remaining half of the alfredo spaghetti noodles over the cream cheese mixture in an even layer. 4. Spread the meat mixture in an even layer over the spaghetti noodles. 5. Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over the top of the meat layer.
- Bake in the oven for 30-40 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the liquids are bubbling.
- Remove from the oven and let sit for about 15 minutes before cutting into to preserve the layers. Or you can serve right away, but the layers may not be as defined. Optional: Top with fresh, chopped basil before serving.
Nutrition
Million Dollar Spaghetti is like a combination of spaghetti and lasagna. Spaghetti is layered into a casserole dish along with meat and creamy cheese layers and then baked in the oven.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Simply reheat single portions in the microwave or reheat the leftovers in a baking dish in the oven until heated through.
You can freeze Million Dollar Spaghetti before or after baking it. Make sure it’s covered tightly in a freezer-safe container and store it in the freezer for up to three months.
