Million Dollar Spaghetti
There’s nothing quite like a baked pasta dish to bring everyone to the table. And when that dish happens to be million dollar spaghetti, you know you’re in for a treat. This dish is the perfect blend of creamy Alfredo sauce, hearty meat sauce, and gooey melted mozzarella—all layered together to create a pasta bake that tastes like a million bucks.
Why you’ll love this million dollar baked spaghetti
Million dollar spaghetti falls somewhere between lasagna, spaghetti, and Alfredo. This dish is a supremely, rich pasta bake that layers spaghetti with a hearty meat sauce, creamy Alfredo sauce, and plenty of cheese. And of course, it’s baked until golden and bubbly, extra melty, and completely irresistible.
It’s the ultimate comfort food—perfect for feeding a crowd or ensuring you have incredible leftovers. Because this is a dish that reheats beautifully, so you can enjoy every delicious bite again and again. One taste, and it’s sure to become a go-to family favorite!
Searching for more baked pasta dishes? deconstructed lasagna / chicken spaghetti with rotel / baked rigatoni with sausage and ricotta / pizzaiolo pasta
Ingredients:
- Parmesan cheese – It’s best to grate your own Parmesan to prevent lumps caused by pre-packaged cheese containing cellulose.
- Heavy cream – Make sure to heat this long enough to thicken it properly for a rich, creamy Alfredo sauce. And yes, we know this is not authentic but we like it better than using a jar of sauce – but you can substitute a jar of Alfredo sauce if you prefer.
- Marinara sauce – In a recipe like this it’s just easier to use a jar. We used Rao’s, but use your favorite or make your own homemade marinara sauce.
Making changes to a recipe can result in recipe failure. Any substitutions listed below are simple changes that I believe will work in this recipe, but results are not guaranteed.
Tips for making this recipe:
Use high-quality marinara sauce for the best flavor. The same goes if you decide to opt for store-bought alfredo sauce. We recommend Rao’s or Classico.
Shred and grate your own cheese to avoid the additives found in pre-shredded varieties, which can prevent it from melting smoothly.
The Pasta Twins always say save a little pasta water before draining your pasta. It helps your sauce bind to the pasta and it can help thicken or thin the sauce to your liking – thanks to the magic starches!
Searching for more spaghetti recipes? spaghetti all’assassina / one-pot taco spaghetti / spaghetti soup / tuna spaghetti
Million Dollar Spaghetti
Ingredients
- 1 16-ounce package spaghetti
- 1 8-ounce package shredded mozzarella cheese
- For the alfredo sauce:
- 1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 1/2 cups grated parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
- black pepper (to taste)
- 1/2 cup pasta water (reserved)
- For the meat sauce:
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
- 4 garlic cloves (minced)
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 1 24-ounce jar marinara sauce
Instructions
- Prep. Preheat oven to 375˚F and spray a baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
- Cook the pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions for al dente. Reserve about 1 cup pasta water before draining.
- Make the meat sauce. While the pasta cooks, heat a large skillet to medium-high. Add ground beef and sausage and allow it to brown, breaking it into pieces as it cooks. Then, add onion, bell pepper, garlic and Italian seasoning.
- Continue to cook until the pepper has softened and the onion is translucent. Add the marinara and about 1/4-1/2 cup reserved pasta water. Allow the sauce to simmer while preparing the rest of the recipe.
- Make the Alfredo sauce. In the pasta pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Remove from heat and add the cream, parmesan cheese and about 1/4 cup of reserved pasta water. Whisk until smooth.
- Assemble the bake. Return the spaghetti to the pan and stir to coat in sauce. Then, transfer the pasta and sauce to a baking dish. Top the pasta with a layer of meat sauce and a layer of mozzarella cheese. Bake the casserole for 20 – 25 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and edges are bubbling.
Nutrition
