Mohamed Shili This delicious Paula Deen-inspired Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole is a creamy, cheesy, and comforting meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights or cozy family dinners. It’s easy to make with everyday ingredients like spaghetti, marinara, and cheese, and the rich layers of flavor make it feel extra special. A true crowd-pleaser for any occasion!
Recipe Ingredients:
- 16 ounces spaghetti noodles
- 1/2 pound ground beef
- 1/2 pound ground Italian sausage or pork sausage
- salt and pepper , to taste
- 1 small onion , chopped
- 2 cloves garlic , minced
- 24 ounces marinara sauce
- 3 Tablespoons butter
- 8 ounces cream cheese , softened
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 cup cottage cheese or ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2/3 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
How To Make Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole?
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 180°C / 350°F.
- Prepare the meat sauce: In a large skillet, cook and crumble the ground beef and sausage. Season with salt and pepper, then drain most of the grease. Add the onion and garlic and sauté until softened. Stir in 560g / 23½ oz of marinara sauce (reserving 120ml / ½ cup) and mix well. Set aside.
- Cook the pasta: Boil the spaghetti noodles in salted water until just al dente, according to package instructions. Drain, then toss with butter and the reserved 120ml / ½ cup of marinara sauce in a large bowl.
- Make the cheese layer: In a mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, sour cream, and cottage cheese (or ricotta) until smooth and creamy.
- Assemble the casserole: Grease a 23x33cm / 9×13-inch baking dish. Add half the pasta as the bottom layer. Spread the cheese mixture evenly over the noodles. Add the remaining noodles on top. Spread the meat sauce evenly over the pasta, then sprinkle the mozzarella and parmesan cheeses over the top.
- Bake the casserole: Bake in the preheated oven for 30–40 minutes, until the cheese is golden and bubbly. Check after 20 minutes and tent with foil if the cheese is browning too quickly.
- Cool and serve: Allow the casserole to cool for at least 15 minutes before slicing and serving.
Recipe Tips:
- Cook the pasta just right: Make sure to cook the spaghetti until it’s just al dente. Overcooking will make the noodles mushy when baked, so keep them firm for the perfect texture.
- Soften the cream cheese: Let the cream cheese come to room temperature before mixing. This ensures a smooth and creamy cheese layer without any lumps.
- Drain the meat properly: After cooking the ground beef and sausage, remove most of the grease to avoid a greasy casserole. This keeps the dish rich but not overly heavy.
- Layer evenly: Spread each layer (noodles, cheese, sauce) evenly in the dish. Uneven layers can lead to some parts being too dry or too saucy.
- Rest before serving: Let the casserole sit for 15 minutes after baking. This helps the layers set and makes slicing easier for perfect servings.
How To Store & Reheat Leftovers?
- Refrigerate: First, let the leftover casserole cool to room temperature. Once cooled, cover it tightly with plastic wrap or transfer it to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freeze: Allow the casserole to cool completely. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil or place it in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 2 months.
- Reheat: Place a portion of the casserole on a microwave-safe plate. Cover it lightly with a microwave-safe lid and heat on medium power in 1-minute intervals, stirring gently between intervals, until hot.
Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 561.9 kcal
- Total Fat: 36.4 g
- Saturated Fat: 16.6 g
- Cholesterol: 120.0 mg
- Sodium: 856.2 mg
- Potassium: 440.7 mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 23.0 g
- Dietary Fiber: 2.5 g
- Sugars: 3.9 g
- Protein: 32.9 g
Check out More Recipes:
Paula Deen Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole
Description
This delicious Paula Deen-inspired Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole is a creamy, cheesy, and comforting meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights or cozy family dinners. It’s easy to make with everyday ingredients like spaghetti, marinara, and cheese, and the rich layers of flavor make it feel extra special. A true crowd-pleaser for any occasion!
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 180°C / 350°F.
- Prepare the meat sauce: In a large skillet, cook and crumble the ground beef and sausage. Season with salt and pepper, then drain most of the grease. Add the onion and garlic and sauté until softened. Stir in 560g / 23½ oz of marinara sauce (reserving 120ml / ½ cup) and mix well. Set aside.
- Cook the pasta: Boil the spaghetti noodles in salted water until just al dente, according to package instructions. Drain, then toss with butter and the reserved 120ml / ½ cup of marinara sauce in a large bowl.
- Make the cheese layer: In a mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, sour cream, and cottage cheese (or ricotta) until smooth and creamy.
- Assemble the casserole: Grease a 23x33cm / 9×13-inch baking dish. Add half the pasta as the bottom layer. Spread the cheese mixture evenly over the noodles. Add the remaining noodles on top. Spread the meat sauce evenly over the pasta, then sprinkle the mozzarella and parmesan cheeses over the top.
- Bake the casserole: Bake in the preheated oven for 30–40 minutes, until the cheese is golden and bubbly. Check after 20 minutes and tent with foil if the cheese is browning too quickly.
- Cool and serve: Allow the casserole to cool for at least 15 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Cook the pasta just right: Make sure to cook the spaghetti until it’s just al dente. Overcooking will make the noodles mushy when baked, so keep them firm for the perfect texture.
- Soften the cream cheese: Let the cream cheese come to room temperature before mixing. This ensures a smooth and creamy cheese layer without any lumps.
- Drain the meat properly: After cooking the ground beef and sausage, remove most of the grease to avoid a greasy casserole. This keeps the dish rich but not overly heavy.
- Layer evenly: Spread each layer (noodles, cheese, sauce) evenly in the dish. Uneven layers can lead to some parts being too dry or too saucy.
- Rest before serving: Let the casserole sit for 15 minutes after baking. This helps the layers set and makes slicing easier for perfect servings.
Paula Deen Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole
