My boyfriend requested I make this and I had never even heard of it! Tracked down this recipe and gave it a try. It turned out SO tasty. We will definitely be making this again!" Must express something to keep getting my recipes...

 

Introduction & Why It’s Called “Million Dollar”

“Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole” is a baked pasta dish that combines layers of spaghetti, meat sauce, creamy cheese layers (often ricotta, cream cheese, or cottage cheese), and melty cheeses to produce a rich, comforting, crowd‑pleasing meal. It’s often described as “lasagna with spaghetti” because it layers elements of lasagna (meat sauce, cheese layers) but uses spaghetti noodles instead of lasagna sheets. Shugary Sweets+3Amanda's Cookin'+3BettyCrocker.com+3

The “million dollar” part is a playful name implying richness, decadence, and flavor — not that it costs a million dollars to make. Shugary Sweets+2Dinner at the Zoo+2

Because there are many slightly different versions online, I’ve combined several sources into one master recipe, with multiple options, so you can choose which path suits you. (Sources include Tammilee Tips tammileetips.com, Betty Crocker BettyCrocker.com, Dinner at the Zoo Dinner at the Zoo, Shugary Sweets Shugary Sweets, Amanda’s Cookin’ Amanda's Cookin', Restless Chipotle Restless Chipotle.)

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Ingredient Theory & What Makes It Work

Before jumping into the recipe, here’s what to understand about ingredients — so you can tweak confidently.

Pasta

• Use spaghetti (broken into shorter lengths) or another long pasta. In some recipes, “spaghetti” is used, but some opt for ziti, penne, or rotini. yeprecipes.com+2food.com+2

• Cook to al dente so it doesn’t become mushy when baked. Pillsbury.com+2Dinner at the Zoo+2

Meat & Sauce

• Ground beef and/or Italian sausage are common protein choices. Amanda’s Cookin’ uses a combination of sausage + beef. Amanda's Cookin'

• Marinara sauce or tomato pasta sauce is typical. Dinner at the Zoo combines jarred marinara + tomato sauce. Dinner at the Zoo+1

• Onions and garlic add foundational flavor.

• Seasoning like Italian seasoning, salt, pepper is essential. Some versions include smoked paprika, cayenne for depth. Restless Chipotle

Creamy Cheese Layer

• A mixture of ricotta (or cottage cheese) + cream cheese is very common. This gives a creamy, luscious texture. Amanda's Cookin'+4Dinner at the Zoo+4Shugary Sweets+4

• Parmesan or grated hard cheese is often folded into this cheese layer. Amanda's Cookin'+2Dinner at the Zoo+2

• An egg sometimes helps bind the cheese layer (as in Betty Crocker’s version). BettyCrocker.com

Cheesy Topping

• Mozzarella is frequently used for the melty top layer. Amanda's Cookin'+3Pillsbury.com+3BettyCrocker.com+3

• Sometimes Parmesan or other cheeses are sprinkled on top. Amanda's Cookin'+1

• Butter slices on top or between layers can add richness (Restless Chipotle uses butter slices) Restless Chipotle

Liquids & Binding

• Milk, cream, or sour cream is sometimes added to the meat sauce to mellow acidity and add richness (Restless Chipotle version includes sour cream and cream cheese). Restless Chipotle

• Some recipes use a bit of cooking water from the pasta to help loosen and integrate the layers.

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Master Recipe: Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole

Here is a full, detailed recipe you can follow. Serves ~10–12.

Ingredients

(using a large 13×9 inch / 3‑quart casserole)

Pasta & base:

• 1 lb (≈ 450 g) spaghetti, broken into shorter lengths

• Salt for pasta water

Meat & sauce:

• 1 lb (≈ 450 g) ground beef (or combine with Italian sausage) Amanda's Cookin'+2Restless Chipotle+2

• ½ lb Italian sausage (optional, for extra flavor) Dinner at the Zoo+1

• 1 medium onion, diced

• 2–3 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 jar (24 to 25 oz) marinara sauce (or tomato pasta sauce) Pillsbury.com+2Restless Chipotle+2

• 1 can (≈ 8 oz) tomato sauce (optional, for thinning) Dinner at the Zoo

• Salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, optional smoked paprika or cayenne for extra depth Restless Chipotle

Cheese layer:

• 15 oz ricotta cheese (or cottage cheese) Dinner at the Zoo+2Amanda's Cookin'+2

• 8 oz cream cheese, softened Pillsbury.com+2Restless Chipotle+2

• ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese (or to taste) Amanda's Cookin'+3Pillsbury.com+3Dinner at the Zoo+3

• (Optional) 1 egg (from Betty Crocker version) to help binding of egg + cheese layer BettyCrocker.com

Top & finishing:

• Butter, cut into thin slices (¼ cup or small slices) Pillsbury.com+2Dinner at the Zoo+2

• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (or a blend) Pillsbury.com+2Dinner at the Zoo+2

• Fresh parsley or basil for garnish (optional) BettyCrocker.com+2Dinner at the Zoo+2

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Equipment

• Large pot for boiling pasta

• Skillet or sauté pan

• Mixing bowls

• 13×9 inch (3‑quart) baking dish

• Aluminum foil

• Spatula, spoon, knife

• Oven, preheated

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Instructions (Step-by-Step with Tips)

1. Preheat & Prepare Dish

• Preheat oven to 350 °F (≈ 175 °C) (Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, others use this). BettyCrocker.com+1

• Grease the baking dish lightly with cooking spray or butter.

2. Cook Spaghetti

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

• Add spaghetti (broken pieces) and cook until al dente (just not fully soft).

• Drain well and return to the pot.

Tip: Using al dente ensures it holds shape when baked. Some recipes mention incorporating butter + egg mixture right after draining to coat spaghetti. BettyCrocker.com+1

3. Prepare Cheese Layer

• In a bowl, combine ricotta (or cottage), softened cream cheese, Parmesan, and (if using) egg. Mix until smooth and well blended.

• This creamy cheese layer is the “million dollar” element that gives softness within the baked dish.

4. Cook Meat Sauce

• In a skillet over medium heat, sauté onion until translucent (~3–4 min). Add garlic, cook ~1 min more.

• Add ground beef (and sausage if using), break it apart, cook until browned, drain off excess fat.

• Stir in marinara sauce (and optional tomato sauce). Add salt, pepper, Italian seasoning (and any optional spices). Simmer briefly until sauce thickens and flavors meld.

5. Assemble Layers

• Spread about 1 cup (or a thin layer) of meat sauce in the bottom of the baking dish.

• Add half of the cooked spaghetti over the sauce, pressing gently.

• Spread the cheese mixture (ricotta/cream) evenly over the spaghetti.

• Place the remaining spaghetti over the cheese layer (press gently).

• Spread the rest of the meat sauce evenly over the top.

• Dot slices of butter over the top (optional, adds richness).

• Sprinkle shredded mozzarella over everything.

6. Bake

• Bake uncovered for 30–45 minutes, until the cheese on top is melted and lightly browned, and the sauce is bubbling at edges. Pillsbury.com+2Dinner at the Zoo+2

• If top browns too fast, cover loosely with foil.

• Let it rest about 5 minutes before serving so slices hold together.

7. Garnish & Serve

• Garnish with chopped parsley or basil if desired.

• Cut into squares or portions with a wide spatula.

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Printable Summary (Master Version)

Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole
Serves ~10–12
Total Time: ~1h (prep + bake)

Ingredients

• 1 lb spaghetti (broken)

• 1 lb ground beef (± Italian sausage)

• 1 jar marinara sauce (≈24 oz) ± tomato sauce

• 1 medium onion, diced

• 2–3 garlic cloves

• 15 oz ricotta

• 8 oz cream cheese

• ⅓ cup Parmesan

• 1 egg (optional)

• Butter slices

• 2 cups mozzarella cheese

• Salt, pepper, Italian seasoning

• Garnish: parsley or basil

Method

1. Preheat oven 350 °F. Grease baking dish.

2. Cook spaghetti al dente, drain.

3. Mix cheese layer: ricotta + cream cheese + Parmesan + egg.

4. Cook meat sauce: onion, garlic, beef, sauce, season.

5. Layer: meat sauce bottom → spaghetti → cheese layer → spaghetti → meat sauce → butter slices → mozzarella.

6. Bake uncovered 30–45 min until cheese melted and top golden. Cover if too dark.

7. Rest 5 minutes, garnish, and serve.

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Tips, Variations & Advanced Tweaks

Tips for Best Results

• Use lean meat or drain fat to avoid greasy finish.

• Don’t overcook pasta — it will finish cooking in oven.

• Soften cream cheese to room temperature to blend smoothly.

• Let the dish rest so the layers “set,” making it easier to slice.

• If assembling ahead (refrigerated), add about 10–15 extra minutes to bake. Shugary Sweets+1

• To freeze: assemble to just before baking, cover well, freeze. Thaw overnight and bake as instructed. Some recipes claim this works well. Restless Chipotle

Variations & Customizations

• Vegetarian version: skip meat, load sauce with vegetables (zucchini, mushrooms, peppers).

• Spice it up: add red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, cayenne to sauce.

• Cheese mix: use Italian cheese blend, provolone, or fontina for variation.

• Layer more cheese: double the mozzarella or add in between layers.

• Use cottage cheese: some recipes use cottage cheese instead of ricotta. tammileetips.com+2food.com+2

• Lasagna-like tweak: use baked ziti, penne, or rigatoni instead of spaghetti.

• Add greens: spinach or kale wilted into the sauce layer.

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Troubleshooting & Common Pitfalls

Problem	Cause	Fix / Prevention
Casserole too watery	Sauce too thin or undercooked, or pasta overcooked	Reduce sauce more, simmer until thick; use al dente pasta
Topping burns	Oven temp too high or baking too long	Cover with foil halfway if top browns too fast
Layers collapse or mix	Too much stirring or cutting too early	Let rest before slicing; use wide spatula to serve
Cheese layer too firm	Too much egg or too much blending	Use minimal binding; don’t overmix cheese layer
Cold casserole in center	Casserole thick or chilled before baking	Bake longer or preheat dish; allow extra bake time

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Serving & Pairing Ideas

• Serve with a crusty green salad (lettuce, arugula, cucumber)

• Complement with garlic bread or crusty baguette

• A side of roasted vegetables (zucchini, eggplant, bell peppers)

• Offer a light vinaigrette on the side to cut richness

• For presentation: sprinkle fresh basil, parsley, or red pepper flakes on top

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This is a full, richly detailed version of Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole. If you like, I can send you a Moroccan‑adapted version (with local ingredients and oven adjustments) or a light / lower‑calorie version. Which variant do you prefer?