Description
This Creamy Million Dollar Spaghetti Bake is the ultimate comfort food! With layers of savory ground beef, rich marinara sauce, creamy cheese, and perfectly baked spaghetti, this dish is a family favorite. Perfect for weeknight dinners, potlucks, or meal prep, this baked spaghetti recipe is easy, delicious, and tastes like a million bucks!
Ingredients
Scale
For the Pasta and Meat Sauce:
- 12 oz spaghetti noodles (cooked al dente)
- 1 lb ground beef (or ground Italian sausage)
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups marinara sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
For the Creamy Cheese Layer:
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
For Topping:
- 1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the Spaghetti
- Cook the spaghetti noodles according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Prepare the Meat Sauce
- Heat a skillet over medium heat, add ground beef, and cook until browned.
- Stir in onion and garlic, cooking for 2–3 minutes.
- Add marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5–7 minutes.
- Make the Creamy Cheese Layer
- In a bowl, mix cream cheese, ricotta, sour cream, and Parmesan cheese until smooth.
- Assemble the Spaghetti Bake
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Layer half the cooked spaghetti in the dish.
- Spread the entire creamy cheese mixture over it.
- Add the remaining spaghetti.
- Pour the meat sauce evenly over the spaghetti.
- Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan cheese on top.
- Bake Until Golden Brown
- Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake uncovered for 10–15 minutes until the top is golden and bubbly.
- Let It Rest & Serve
- Allow the spaghetti bake to rest for 5–10 minutes before slicing.
- Garnish with fresh basil or parsley and enjoy!
Notes
- Use freshly shredded cheese for the best melting texture.
- Slightly undercook pasta to prevent it from getting mushy.
- For a spicy kick, add red pepper flakes to the meat sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Pasta, Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 29g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 27g
- Cholesterol: 85mg