Description
Million Dollar Spaghetti is a hearty and delicious baked pasta casserole that layers spaghetti with Italian sausage, a rich blend of cheeses, and marinara sauce. This comforting dish is perfect for family dinners, combining the ease of stovetop cooking with the delightful finish of oven baking to create a cheesy, flavorful meal that serves 8 people.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Pasta and Sauce
- 1 pound uncooked spaghetti
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 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
For the Cheese Layer
- 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
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and position the rack in the top third of the oven for even baking and browning.
- Mix Cheese Layer: In a medium bowl, combine the cream cheese, ricotta, parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and dried oregano. Stir until the mixture is smooth and evenly blended. Set aside.
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti for 2 minutes less than the package directions to keep it slightly underdone. Drain and return the pasta to the pot.
- Brown Sausage and Onion: While the pasta cooks, heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the Italian sausage and chopped onion, breaking the sausage apart with a spoon. Cook for about 10 minutes until browned and fully cooked through.
- Add Aromatics: Stir in the minced garlic and optional red pepper flakes to the sausage and onion. Cook for about 1 minute until fragrant. Carefully spoon out any excess fat from the pan.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Pour the sausage mixture into the pot with the cooked spaghetti. Add the marinara sauce and toss gently with tongs or two large spoons until everything is well coated with sauce.
- Layer Pasta Mixture: Spread half of the pasta and sauce mixture evenly into a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Add Cheese Layer: Spread the prepared cheese mixture evenly over the first pasta layer. It is okay if it is a bit uneven or messy.
- Top with Remaining Pasta: Add the remaining pasta and sauce mixture over the cheese layer, spreading it out evenly. Then sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly on top.
- Bake Covered: Cover the casserole dish with foil and bake in the oven for 30 minutes to heat through and meld the flavors.
- Broil Cheese Topping: Remove the foil and broil the casserole for a few minutes, watching carefully until the mozzarella cheese is bubbly and browned.
- Rest and Serve: Allow the casserole to cool and set for 5 to 10 minutes before cutting into portions. Season individual servings with salt and pepper as needed.
Notes
- Use Italian sausage for best flavor, either sweet or spicy according to preference.
- Cooking the pasta slightly underdone helps it not get mushy after baking.
- Broiling at the end creates a lovely bubbly and browned cheese topping, but watch closely to avoid burning.
- Leftovers keep well and the extra sauce ensures they won’t be dry when reheated.
- Substitute gluten-free pasta if needed to make this dish gluten-free, but adjust cook time accordingly.
