Why is it called million dollar spaghetti?

It’s called million dollar spaghetti because of how rich and indulgent it tastes, not because it’s expensive. The creamy cheese layers make the dish feel special—like it’s worth a million bucks.

How to make million dollar spaghetti at home?

You’ll need spaghetti noodles, a meat sauce, and a creamy cheese layer made with cottage cheese and cream cheese. Layer everything in a casserole dish, top with mozzarella and Parmesan, and bake until golden brown.

What is million dollar spaghetti?

Million dollar spaghetti is a baked spaghetti casserole that combines pasta, tomato sauce, ground beef or sausage, and a rich cheese layer. It’s like a cross between baked spaghetti and lasagna but creamier.

How long to bake million dollar spaghetti?

Bake at 350°F for 30–40 minutes, covered with foil for the first half of baking. Remove foil to let the cheese brown on top.

A million dollar spaghetti explained simply

Think of million dollar spaghetti as spaghetti meets lasagna, with cream cheese and cottage cheese adding a velvety middle layer. It’s comfort food at its finest.

Million Dollar Spaghetti – The Best Creamy Pasta Bake Ever

Name: Million Dollar Spaghetti Recipe (The Best Comfort Food You’ll Ever Try)
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 1 h
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 lb spaghetti; 1 lb ground beef or sausage; 1 jar marinara sauce (24 oz); 1 cup cottage cheese; 8 oz cream cheese; 1/2 cup sour cream; 2 cups mozzarella cheese; 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese; 1/2 stick butter

Ingredients

Scale

1 lb spaghetti
1 lb ground beef or sausage
1 jar marinara sauce (24 oz)
1 cup cottage cheese
8 oz cream cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
2 cups mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1/2 stick butter

Instructions

Step 1: Cook Spaghetti – Cook spaghetti until al dente, drain, and toss with butter.
Step 2: Make Meat Sauce – Prepare meat sauce with beef and marinara.
Step 3: Mix Cheese Layer – Mix cottage cheese, cream cheese, and sour cream for the creamy layer.
Step 4: Assemble – Layer spaghetti, cheese mixture, sauce, and top with mozzarella and Parmesan.
Step 5: Bake – Bake at 350°F for 30–40 minutes until bubbly and golden.

Notes

You can substitute ricotta for cottage cheese. Let the casserole sit for 10 minutes before serving for easier slicing.

Author: Mike
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Category: Dinner
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 slice
Calories: 520
Sugar: 6g
Sodium: 780mg
Fat: 32g
Saturated Fat: 15g
Unsaturated Fat: 14g
Trans Fat: 1g
Carbohydrates: 35g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 24g
Cholesterol: 85mg

Keywords: million dollar spaghetti, baked spaghetti, spaghetti lasagna