Million Dollar Spaghetti: Creamy Baked Pasta Casserole (58) 2026

Million Dollar Spaghetti is a baked pasta casserole that lives up to its name: layers of spaghetti, a creamy cheese filling, a rich meat-and-tomato sauce, and a golden blanket of mozzarella and Parmesan on top. It is comfort food at its finest, and it is surprisingly easy to put together at home.

The magic of this dish is in the layering. Spaghetti is tossed with tomato sauce, half of it goes into a buttered baking dish, and then a mixture of cream cheese and sour cream is spread over it to create that irresistible creaminess in every bite. The rest of the pasta goes on top, followed by seasoned ground beef and a generous layer of cheese.

We use a mix of ground beef and pork for the meat sauce, though all beef works just as well. Use a good-quality tomato sauce, ideally one with onion and seasoning, since it flavors both the pasta and the meat. A simple lettuce and tomato salad on the side rounds out this hearty main course perfectly.

Ingredients for Million Dollar Spaghetti

For 2 servings

• 120 g spaghetti
• Salt
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 250 g ground meat (beef or a mix of beef and pork)
• Ground black pepper
• 225 g tomato sauce
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning or herbes de Provence
• 100 g cream cheese
• 1 tablespoon sour cream (or crème fraîche)
• 1 teaspoon butter at room temperature
• 125 g mozzarella cheese
• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

How to Make Million Dollar Spaghetti Step by Step

1. Cook the spaghetti

Preheat the oven to 180 °C (350 °F). Cook 120 g of spaghetti in boiling water with a pinch of salt for the time indicated on the package.

2. Brown the ground meat

Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet and brown 250 g of ground meat for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper to taste and set aside.

3. Mix the meat with half the tomato sauce

Add 100 g of tomato sauce to the meat — reserve the rest to mix with the spaghetti — season with 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning or herbes de Provence, and cook the mixture for 5 minutes. Set aside.

4. Mix the cheese with the sour cream

While the meat and tomato mixture finishes cooking, mix 100 g of cream cheese with 1 tablespoon of sour cream in a bowl.

5. Mix the pasta with the rest of the tomato sauce

Mix the drained spaghetti with the remaining 125 g of tomato sauce.

6. Add half the spaghetti to the baking dish

Spread 1 teaspoon of room-temperature butter in an oven-safe dish and add half of the spaghetti.

7. Cover with the cream cheese mixture

Spread the cream cheese and sour cream mixture over the pasta.

8. Add the remaining spaghetti

Spread the reserved meat mixture over the spaghetti.

9. Add the ground meat

Spread the reserved meat mixture over the spaghetti.

10. Top with the cheeses

Cover the entire surface of the meat with 125 g of chopped mozzarella cheese and finish with 2 tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese.

11. Bake the Million Dollar Spaghetti

Bake the Million Dollar Spaghetti for 25 minutes at 180 °C (350 °F) until golden.

12. Serve immediately

Serve the spaghetti immediately to enjoy them freshly made.

Tips for the Best Million Dollar Spaghetti

Choose a flavorful tomato sauce

The tomato sauce flavors both the pasta and the meat, so pick a good one. A sauce that includes onion and extra seasoning will make the final dish noticeably richer, whether you use homemade or store-bought.

Get the creamiest cheese layer

The middle layer of cream cheese and sour cream is what gives this dish its signature creaminess. Sour cream is easy to find in large supermarkets, or you can substitute crème fraîche, which is widely available in the refrigerated section.

Pick the right melting cheeses

Mozzarella and Parmesan are a winning combination for the golden topping, but cheddar, which also melts well, makes a fine alternative. Since this is a hearty dish, serve it with a simple lettuce and tomato salad to complete the meal.

30 Go-To Recipes I Keep Coming Back to in My Own Kitchen

Like a lot of home cooks, I like having a rotation that covers cozy classics, dishes from around the world, and sweets that make everyone happy.

Some nights I want something luxuriously rich, and that's when I reach for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a truly indulgent Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And on days when I'm after something fruity and soothing, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is my reliable pick.

For mornings that call for something easy and for lighter plates, I'll whip up these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And whenever I need a gluten-free staple for the pantry, this straightforward Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe does the job.

When tapas and Mediterranean cooking are calling, I tend to cycle through this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, crispy Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, silky Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This crisp Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe is another one I love to serve when the occasion feels a bit more special.

Hearty midday meals and comforting suppers? These are the ones I'm always recommending: this warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, traditional Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, deeply savory Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and velvety Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. When I'm after something more substantial, I'll bake up this Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, rustic Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply comforting French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Street-food cravings and party spreads usually lead me to this juicy Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crispy Salchipapas recipe, punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crackly Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These effortless Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe are another favorite of mine for a quick appetizer or snack.

And when I'm hosting and putting together drinks alongside a full menu, I'll often serve dinner with this refreshing Original Cuban Mojito recipe, this potent Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To bring the whole table together, I like setting out this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe on the side, or finishing things off with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes to Cook for Your Family

After years of cooking, testing, and tweaking in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the greatest dishes boil down to three things: straightforward methods, techniques you can trust, and serious flavor.

Every recipe gathered here is one I genuinely cook over and over—whether it's a fast meal just for me or something a little more celebratory for friends and family.

On the sweet side, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is a go-to when I want something that feels fancy yet comes together without fuss. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled on the well-known Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better dessert texture helps a lot, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

When something light and uncomplicated is what I'm after, I'll usually make the classic Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For cozier, more filling meals, I frequently point people to the satisfying Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the creamy Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the fast weeknight winner One Pot Pasta Recipe.

I'm also a big fan of sharing dishes with roots in other countries, such as the authentic Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crispy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the traditional Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another category I turn to often, since it cuts down on time without sacrificing texture. The ones I make most include Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be rich, cheesy, and deeply satisfying without any gluten.

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