Description
Comfort meets luxury in this million dollar spaghetti, where creamy layers and hearty meat sauce create a casserole masterpiece. Cheese-laden and rich, this dish promises to delight dinner guests with its irresistible blend of classic Italian-American flavors you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein Ingredients:
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 1 pound uncooked spaghetti
Cheese and Dairy Ingredients:
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 8 ounces ricotta cheese
- 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Seasoning and Sauce Ingredients:
- 2 (24 ounces) jars marinara sauce
- 1/2 medium onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375F (190C), positioning the rack in the top third to ensure a golden, crispy cheese topping.
- Blend cream cheese, ricotta, parmesan, garlic powder, and oregano in a medium bowl until smooth and creamy. Set aside the cheese mixture.
- Cook spaghetti in salted boiling water, removing it two minutes before package instructions to maintain al dente texture. Drain thoroughly and return to the pot.
- In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook Italian sausage with chopped onions, breaking the meat into small crumbles until fully cooked, approximately 10 minutes.
- Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes to the skillet, stirring for one minute to release aromatic flavors. Drain excess fat to prevent greasiness.
- Combine sausage mixture with pasta, mixing in marinara sauce until every strand is evenly coated.
- Spread half the pasta and sauce mixture into a 9×13 baking dish, creating an even base layer.
- Distribute the prepared cheese mixture uniformly over the first pasta layer, creating a rich, creamy middle section.
- Top with remaining pasta mixture, ensuring complete coverage. Generously sprinkle mozzarella cheese across the surface.
- Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and broil until cheese turns golden and bubbly, watching carefully to prevent burning.
- Allow casserole to rest 5-10 minutes before serving. Slice and season with salt and pepper if desired.
Notes
- Adjust pasta cooking time carefully to maintain the perfect al dente texture, ensuring it doesn’t become mushy during the baking process.
- Use high-quality Italian sausage and fresh herbs for maximum flavor depth and authentic taste in the dish.
- Consider substituting ground turkey or plant-based sausage for a lighter, healthier version that still delivers incredible taste.
- Allow the casserole to rest after baking, which helps the layers set and makes serving more precise and visually appealing.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg