Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole is an easy hearty casserole that is both budget-friendly and easy to make. This casserole is simple and a delicious way to feed a family or a crowd!
©SpendWithPennies.com
When I have a hungry family to feed, I break out an old fashioned casserole. Hearty casseroles are designed for that kind of work! Potlucks, large family gatherings… whatever your need, a casserole will be there for you. This recipe for Million Dollar Spaghetti is one of my all time favorite casseroles. It’s basically an easy combination of baked spaghetti and lasagna. (I know, it sounds delicious doesn’t it?)
As only the best family recipes are, this million dollar spaghetti is budget-friendly. It yields a ton of food, and the ingredients aren’t complicated or expensive. In that way, this casserole is a fantastic part of your weeknight meal routine.
I like using Italian sausage for the extra flavor, but in a pinch you can substitute regular ground beef.
The leftovers for this dish are tremendous. The pasta softens up a little bit when reheating, but the flavor is just as good as when it was fresh out of the oven.
Million dollar spaghetti casserole is an ooey-gooey, hearty, rich comfort food. You’ll enjoy every bite, and—if you’re like me—you’ll start looking for the next time you can make it. Enjoy.
Recipe Notes:
Cheese: You can use either cottage cheese or ricotta cheese for this recipe. Whichever sounds better to you! I’m partial to the cottage cheese because I think it lends the final recipe a great creaminess.
Pasta: Spaghetti noodles are just one of the many different kinds of pasta that will work in this dish. I love using ziti or rigatoni noodles on occasion.
Serving: My advice is to serve this recipe with garlic bread and salad. They make an awesome first course while the casserole is cooling.
Baking: Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole can be made up to 24 hours ahead of time. Ensure you cover & refrigerate the pan. Once baked, allow the casserole sit out and cool for a good 10-15 minutes before serving.
Freezing: To freeze the casserole, wrap it in plastic wrap first, and then aluminum foil. Let it thaw overnight in the fridge before baking.
Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole
Equipment
Ingredients
- 16 ounces dried spaghetti noodles
- 1 large yellow onion chopped
- 4-6 cloves garlic minced
- 1 ½ pounds sweet Italian sausage casing removed
- 3 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning divided
- 48 ounces spaghetti sauce 2 jars, divided
- 8 ounces cottage cheese or ricotta cheese
- 8 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 3 cups mozzarella shredded, divided
- ½ cup butter cut into slices, divided
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package, drain well and return pasta to original pot. Add 1 jar of prepared spaghetti sauce and combine. Set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook until they begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Add sausage and 2 teaspoons Italian Seasoning to skillet, and cook until no pink remains. Drain well. Add 1 jar of spaghetti sauce to skillet. Set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine Cottage cheese or ricotta cheese, cream cheese, sour cream, 1 cup mozzarella, and 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning. Set aside.
- Place half the slices of butter in a 9x13 baking dish. Spread half the spaghetti in dish, then spread cheese mixture evenly over spaghetti. Spread remaining spaghetti over cheese mixture. Top with the remaining butter slices.Pour tomato meat sauce evenly over top layer of spaghetti.
- Top with remaining mozzarella and bake in preheated oven until casserole is heated through, about 35-45 minutes.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Dinner
Cuisine American© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
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I have made this dish several times. I use half ground beef and half Italian sausage. I add green peppers. Everywhere I took this, everyone raved about it, many have asked for the recipe. Great for a large group and pot luck.
The best!!! Hands down the best ! Love this casserole. Thank you so much and my family thanks you for absolutely the best on this planet.
I am so happy to hear you love this casserole so much Wes!
does this recipe take 48 oz. sphagetti sauce total, or two 48 oz. jars of sphagett sauce
We use 2 jars of pasta sauce to equal 48 ounces in total. We say divided because 24 ounces is added in step 2 and the additional 24 ounces is added in step 3.