Description
Million Dollar Spaghetti is a rich and cheesy pasta bake with sausage and marinara, perfect for a comforting meal.
Ingredients
- 1 pound uncooked spaghetti
- 1 pound Italian beef sausage, casing removed
- 1/2 medium onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 (24-ounce) jars marinara sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 8 ounces ricotta cheese
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, ricotta, Parmesan, garlic powder, and oregano until smooth. Set aside.
- Cook spaghetti in salted boiling water until 2 minutes shy of al dente. Drain and return to pot.
- In a skillet, sauté sausage and onion until browned, about 10 minutes. Add garlic and red pepper flakes, cook 1 minute more. Drain excess fat.
- Add sausage mixture to the pasta. Stir in marinara sauce.
- Spread half of the pasta-sauce mixture in the baking dish. Layer with cheese mixture. Top with remaining pasta-sauce mixture. Sprinkle with mozzarella.
- Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and broil for 2-3 minutes until golden and bubbly.
- Let rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Ensure cream cheese is softened for the cheese layer to combine smoothly.
- Drain excess fat from the sausage to prevent a greasy final dish.
- Broiling at the end adds a nice golden-brown crisp to the cheese topping.
- Allowing the casserole to rest helps the layers set for easier serving.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American