Description
Million Dollar Spaghetti is a hearty and delicious baked pasta casserole featuring Italian sausage, a rich three-cheese layer, and a flavorful marinara sauce. This comforting dish combines tender spaghetti tossed with savory sausage and marinara, layered with a creamy blend of cream cheese, ricotta, and parmesan, then topped with melted mozzarella cheese. Perfect for family dinners or potlucks, it offers a satisfying and cheesy Italian-American meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Sauce
- 1 pound uncooked spaghetti
- 1 pound Italian sausage (see note)
- 1/2 medium onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 (24 ounce) jars marinara sauce
- Salt & pepper to taste
Cheese Layer
- 8 ounces cream cheese (1 block Philadelphia), softened
- 8 ounces ricotta cheese
- 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
Topping
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and position the oven rack in the top third of the oven to prepare for baking the casserole.
- Prepare Cheese Layer: In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, ricotta cheese, freshly grated parmesan, garlic powder, and dried oregano. Stir until smooth and well blended. Set aside.
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook for 2 minutes less than the package directions indicate to keep it slightly firm. Drain the pasta and return it to the pot.
- Cook Sausage and Vegetables: While pasta cooks, heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the Italian sausage and chopped onion, breaking up the sausage as it cooks. Cook for approximately 10 minutes until the sausage is browned and fully cooked.
- Add Garlic and Red Pepper Flakes: Stir minced garlic and red pepper flakes into the skillet with the sausage and onions; cook for about 1 minute until fragrant. Remove and spoon out any excess fat from the pan to keep the mixture from being greasy.
- Combine Pasta with Sauce and Sausage: Add the sausage mixture and marinara sauce to the pot with the cooked spaghetti. Toss thoroughly using tongs or large spoons until all spaghetti is well coated with sauce and sausage.
- Layer the Casserole: Spread half of the pasta and sauce mixture evenly into a 9×13-inch baking dish. Carefully spread the cheese layer evenly over this pasta layer. It may be a bit messy but aim for good coverage.
- Add Remaining Pasta and Top with Mozzarella: Spoon the remaining half of the pasta mixture over the cheese layer and spread evenly. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly across the top.
- Bake and Broil: Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes at 375°F. Remove the foil and broil for a few minutes, watching closely, until the cheese is bubbly and browned.
- Rest and Serve: Let the casserole rest for 5 to 10 minutes after baking to set. Cut into individual portions using a spatula. Season with salt and pepper to taste if needed before serving.
Notes
- Use either ground sausage meat or buy sausages and remove the casing to use the meat directly.
- If you need to soften cream cheese faster, microwave it for 20-30 seconds before mixing.
- Feel free to customize the cheese layer with different cheeses to suit your taste preferences.
- Refer to process photos for additional guidance on layering and preparation steps (if available).
- This recipe is featured on page 46 of the Salt & Lavender: Everyday Essentials hardcover cookbook.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of casserole (about 1.5 cups)
- Calories: 550 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg
