Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole – The Ultimate Comfort Food!

by

This rich, cheesy spaghetti bake is the lovechild of lasagna and spaghetti, featuring layers of pasta, meaty marinara, creamy ricotta, and a buttery sour cream topping that makes it taste like a million bucks. Perfect for feeding a crowd or meal prepping for the week!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

✅ Next-Level Comfort Food – Hearty, cheesy, and satisfying
✅ Feeds a Crowd – Great for potlucks and family dinners
✅ Make-Ahead Friendly – Tastes even better reheated
✅ Kid-Approved – Picky eaters devour it

Ingredients

For the Meat Sauce:

  • 1 lb ground beef (or Italian sausage)
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper

For the Cheese Layers:

  • 12 oz spaghetti, cooked al dente
  • 1 (15 oz) container ricotta cheese
  • 1 large egg
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

For the Sour Cream Topping:

  • 1 cup sour cream
  • ¼ cup butter, melted

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Make the Meat Sauce

  1. Brown ground beef, onion, and garlic in a skillet over medium heat. Drain excess fat.
  2. Stir in marinara, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer 5 minutes.

Step 2: Prepare Cheese Mixture

  1. In a bowl, mix ricotta, egg, and Parmesan cheese.

Step 3: Assemble the Casserole

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
  2. Spread ½ the cooked spaghetti in the dish.
  3. Layer with ½ the meat sauce, then all the ricotta mixture.
  4. Top with remaining spaghetti and remaining meat sauce.

Step 4: Add the Magic Topping

  1. Spread sour cream evenly over the top.
  2. Drizzle with melted butter and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.

Step 5: Bake to Perfection

  1. Cover with foil and bake 30 minutes.
  2. Uncover and bake 10-15 more minutes until bubbly and golden.
  3. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

Tips for the Best Casserole

🔹 Extra Cheesy? Add cream cheese to the ricotta layer.
🔹 Crispier Top? Broil for 2-3 minutes at the end.
🔹 Make Ahead – Assemble unbaked and refrigerate for 24 hours.

Serving Suggestions

  • Pair with garlic bread and a simple salad.
  • Top with fresh basil or red pepper flakes for extra flavor.

Final Thoughts

This Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole is the ultimate comfort food upgrade—creamy, meaty, and loaded with cheesy goodness. One bite and you’ll see why it’s worth every penny!

Dig in! 🍝💰🔥

Leave a Comment