When I call a recipe “Million Dollar,” you already know it’s been tested and perfected. I’ve been in this recipe game for nearly a decade, and I don’t share anything that doesn’t hit. You won’t find bland noodles or dry pasta here, just a tried-and-true recipe that delivers every time. It’s seasoned just right, creamy in the center, and topped with melty cheese that brings it all together.
Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole Ingredients
- Diced Peppers
- Diced Onions
- Garlic
- Pasta: Spaghetti is what I'm using in the recipe. You can also use fettuccine, penne, rotini, and farfalle.
- Ground Beef: You can also use ground turkey, ground chicken, or Italian sausage
- Crushed Tomatoes
- Oregano
- Basil
- Cream Cheese
- Mozzarella Cheese
- Cheddar Cheese
How to Make Million Dollar Spaghetti
Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Cook the spaghetti in accordance with the instructions on the package.
- Place a large oven-safe pot or Dutch oven on medium-high heat.
- Add the ground beef.
- Season the meat with Italian Seasoning, salt, and pepper to taste.
- Cook until fully cooked through. Add in the onions, green peppers, red peppers, and garlic.
- Add in the crushed tomatoes.
- Taste repeatedly and adjust spices as necessary to suit your taste.
- Add in the cream cheese and grated Parmesan. Stir until melted and combined.
- Fold in the cooked spaghetti and stir.
- Adjust the heat to medium-low and place the lid on the pot. Simmer.
- Open the pot and remove the bay leaf.
- Sprinkle cheddar cheese and mozzarella over the spaghetti.
- Broil in the oven until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and browned.
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Million Dollar Spaghetti Recipe
Want to save this recipe for later?
I'll email it to you, so you can come back to it later! You will also grab your FREE ebook with my best 30-minute one-pot meals! Dinner stress stops here.
Ingredients
- 10 oz spaghetti pasta
- 1 pound ground beef turkey, or chicken
- 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- salt and pepper to taste
- ½ cup diced onions I used red onions. Use what you like.
- ½ cup diced green peppers
- ½ cup diced red peppers
- 4 garlic cloves Minced
- 4 oz cream cheese Softened.
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan Reggiano Cheese
- 1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
Homemade Marinara Sauce (Feel free to use jarred, store-bought sauce if you wish).
- 28 oz canned crushed tomatoes
- ½ teaspoon ground oregano
- 3 fresh basil leaves (chiffonade, sliced into strips) ½ - 1 teaspoon if using dried. Adjust to taste.
- ½ teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 bay leaf
Instructions
- Cook the spaghetti in accordance with the instructions on the package. Prep your vegetables while the spaghetti cooks.10 oz spaghetti pasta
- Place a large oven-safe pot or Dutch oven on medium-high heat. (I use the same one I used to cook the pasta).
- Add the ground beef. Break down the beef with a meat chopper. Drain any excess fat from the beef.1 pound ground beef
- Season the meat with 1 teaspoon of Italian Seasoning, salt, and pepper to taste.1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning, salt and pepper to taste
- Cook for 5-6 minutes until fully cooked through. Add in the onions, green peppers, red peppers, and garlic. Saute until the onions and garlic are fragrant.½ cup diced onions, ½ cup diced green peppers, ½ cup diced red peppers, 4 garlic cloves
- Add in the crushed tomatoes, ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning, bay leaf, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Stir.28 oz canned crushed tomatoes, ½ teaspoon ground oregano, 3 fresh basil leaves, ½ teaspoon Italian Seasoning, salt and pepper to taste, 1 bay leaf
- Taste repeatedly and adjust spices as necessary to suit your taste. The taste of the sauce is key to the overall taste of the dish.
- Add in the cream cheese and grated Parmesan. Stir until melted and combined.4 oz cream cheese, ¼ cup grated Parmesan Reggiano Cheese
- Fold in the cooked spaghetti and stir.
- Adjust the heat to medium-low and place the lid on the pot. Simmer and cook for 15-20 minutes. The sauce and pasta should meld together.
- Preheat the oven to Broil.
- Open the pot and remove the bay leaf.
- Sprinkle the cheddar cheese and mozzarella over the spaghetti.1 cup grated mozzarella cheese, 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
- Broil in the oven for 3-5 minutes until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and browned.
- Cool before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition Data
Macros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
Frequently Asked Questions and Recipe Pro Tips
This is a comforting and indulgent pasta dish. It can be made with layers of cooked spaghetti, but I like to shortcut that method to save some time! The name "Million Dollar Spaghetti" comes from its decadent taste and the fact that everyone absolutely loves it. It certainly doesn't cost a million dollars to produce, but it may taste like it!
Feel free to use store bought marinara sauce if you don't want to make the homemade version.
A Dutch oven works best because it can be used in every step of this recipe, which is great if you want to make it a one-pot-meal. You can use it to boil the pasta, cook the ground beef, and it is oven safe and can be used to broil the cheese on top as well.
I used a Dutch oven and a 12-inch cast iron skillet, which you don't have to do. I like my cast iron skillet for crisping the top cheese layer. It produces great results. You certainly don't have to do what I do, if you care about saving dishes!
Whatever pot or pan you use needs to be oven safe.
This is a dish that reheats well using any method: microwave, stove, oven (350 degrees), air fryer (350 degrees). Regardless of the method you choose, be sure to stir the spaghetti occasionally during reheating to ensure even heating throughout. Continue to heat for however long it takes to warm and melt the cheese.
You can freeze the dish tightly covered and sealed for up to 2-3 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge.
I always buy blocks of cheese and grate them myself. I do not recommend using pre-shredded, bagged cheese. I use the shred blade on my food processor to save time with this process, you can also use a standard cheese grater.
Freshly grated cheese melts way better than pre-shredded. The bagged stuff is coated with anti-caking agents like potato starch so it doesn’t clump in the package, but those coatings also keep it from melting as smooth and creamy in your dish. When you grate the cheese yourself, there are no additives getting in the way, so it melts nice and velvety. It also tastes better because it hasn’t dried out from sitting in a bag with all that extra surface area exposed.
Variations, Substitutions, and Add-Ins
- Cajun Seasoning (I always add this, it's my favorite pairing)
- Mushrooms
- Zucchini
- Spinach
- Red Pepper Flakes
- Olives
- Artichokes
- Sundried Tomatoes
- Dry Red or Dry White Wine (adds flavor to the marinara)
What to Serve with Million Dollar Spaghetti
Fried Sweet Potatoes
Fried Corn
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Garlic
Creamy Southern Coleslaw
Coleslaw Without Vinegar
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LORI says
Can you use spaghetti squash for this recipe?
staysnatched says
Sure.
Nek C says
This was a nice spin on the regular and traditional spaghetti I typically make. I’m in love with cheese, so this definitely pleased my cheese needs. Quick, flavorful, and easy directions to follow.
staysnatched says
Wonderful! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Adairea says
Made this for Sunday dinner and the hubby and I had it for lunch as leftovers for a few days! I loved it! Definitely adding this in the rotation for quick easy meals that will last a few days!
staysnatched says
Wonderful! This is perfect for that!
Ms. Meekah says
I was a little apprehensive with adding cream to the sauce but I am glad I did. My family loved it! I cooked the spaghetti exactly as the recipe instructed. I do not think I would change anything.
staysnatched says
Nice!
Deb says
Abolsultely love this dish as do my grandkids. Simple and easy to make.
staysnatched says
I'm glad to hear it!