Baked Million Dollar Spaghetti is creamy and cheesy, topped with meat sauce and extra bubbly cheese, like a cross between ziti and lasagna!
Pasta bakes are an easy way to make your favorite Italian Recipes that feed a big crowd, and that the kids will love too! This recipe is cheesy, beefy, and satisfies everyone, just like Cheesy Beef Pasta Bake, Baked Spaghetti and Meatballs, and Ravioli Lasagna Bake.
Baked Million Dollar Spaghetti is a hit with many families, and it isn’t hard to see why. With melted cheese, cream cheese, meat, and Homemade Marinara Sauce, and perfect as a make-ahead meal you can freeze, this dish is a perfect meal in a pan and even better served with a nice side salad.
It may seem like there is a lot of meat and cheese going on in this 9×13 pan, but you can probably get 12 portions out of the meal, 9 if you’ve got a lot of hungry people to serve. The flavors are rich enough that a smaller portion is enough to satisfy.
You’ll want to let the Baked Million Dollar Spaghetti cool for about 5-10 minutes when it comes out of the oven. It is easier to cut into perfect squares using this silicone spatula which has a great shape to it. The presentation is fun when cut neatly into squares, but even if you scoop it out with tongs or a spoon, it will taste delicious! Serve Baked Million Dollar Spaghetti with Garlic Bread and a copycat Olive Garden Salad for an easy and complete Italian meal your family will love.
How to Make Baked Million Dollar Spaghetti
Whip up a delectable and satisfying Baked Million Dollar Spaghetti at home with this easy-to-follow recipe. This dish combines the comfort of pasta with the richness of cream cheese and mozzarella. Check it out!
- Step One: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and cook the spaghetti two minutes shy of the package directions. Drain and set aside.
- Step Two: Brown the ground beef, onion, garlic, salt, and pepper in a large skillet. Drain the liquid, then mix in one cup of marinara sauce.
- Step Three: Toss the cooked spaghetti with the remaining 5 cups of marinara sauce, then layer half of it in a 9×13 baking dish. Spread a mixture of softened cream cheese and 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese on top of the layers of noodles, followed by the remaining pasta/sauce mixture.
- Step Four: Add the meat sauce on top and sprinkle with the remaining cup of mozzarella cheese. Cover and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, then uncover and bake for an additional 10 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
Try making this pasta bake with Italian sausage instead of ground beef, or lighten it up with ground Italian chicken or turkey sausage, or chunks of grilled chicken breast.
Use chunks of cooked chicken with a creamy Alfredo sauce for a Chicken Alfredo Million Dollar Spaghetti (optional you can also toss in frozen peas). Or leave out the meat altogether and use spinach, lemon juice, and lemon zest with a creamy Alfredo sauce for a vegetarian take.
Add roasted vegetables like zucchini, eggplant, and red onion in addition to or in place of the meat.
Yes, it’s so much fun! Instead of ground beef, use chopped pepperoni, chopped bell peppers, onions, and sliced olives for a combination pizza flavor.
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Key Ingredients in Baked Million Dollar Spaghetti
This Baked Million Dollar Spaghetti recipe brings together simple, easy-to-find ingredients for a mouthwatering meal. The combination of pasta, cheese, and sauce creates a comforting, crowd-pleasing dish. You can easily get all the ingredients from your closest grocery store.
- Spaghetti: The base of this dish, spaghetti noodles provide the perfect texture and shape to hold onto the rich sauce and cheese.
- Ground Beef: Adding a savory, hearty element, lean ground beef can be found in most grocery stores or substituted or combined with ground turkey or ground chicken for a different meat mixture option.
- Marinara Sauce: Homemade Marinara Sauce adds a tangy, slightly sweet flavor that complements creamy cheeses and hearty beef. You can also just use a regular jar of spaghetti sauce in a pinch.
- Cream Cheese: The star ingredient, cream cheese adds a rich, velvety texture and tangy flavor to the dish, making it truly indulgent.
- Mozzarella Cheese: This mild, melty cheese brings the dish together, creating a gooey, stretchy layer on top of the baked spaghetti.
Can Baked Million Dollar Spaghetti Be Made Ahead of Time?
Yes, Baked Million Dollar Spaghetti can be assembled ahead of time and refrigerated for up to 24 hours before baking. Simply follow the recipe up until the baking step, then cover and refrigerate. When you’re ready to bake, add an additional 10-15 minutes of covered baking time to ensure the dish is heated through.
You can even make this Baked Million Dollar Spaghetti in a double quantity so you have one tray to serve and one to freeze. For making ahead the only difference in the directions would be to follow all the steps until it says to put it in the oven. At that point, top with foil and freeze.
To serve, remove it from the freezer the day before you plan on serving so it can defrost in the fridge. If you don’t remember to remove it, you can expect your cook time to be about an hour long at least.
Substitutions in Baked Million Dollar Spaghetti
- Ground Beef Substitution: You can replace the ground beef with ground turkey or chicken for a leaner option.
- Cream Cheese Substitution: For a lighter version, try using Neufchâtel cheese, which has a similar texture and flavor but fewer calories and fat.
- Mozzarella Cheese Substitution: Feel free to swap the mozzarella cheese with another melty cheese like fontina or provolone for a different flavor profile.
Variations on Baked Million Dollar Spaghetti
This recipe is highly customizable, allowing you to add your favorite ingredients or cater to dietary preferences. Try adding sautéed mushrooms, spinach, or bell peppers for a veggie boost. You can also experiment with different types of pasta like penne, rigatoni, or even gluten-free pasta to suit your preferences.
- Veggie-Packed Baked Million Dollar Spaghetti: Add your favorite vegetables, such as sautéed mushrooms, spinach, or bell peppers, for a more colorful and nutritious meal. Sprinkle a bit of parmesan cheese on top for extra flavor!
- Chicken Baked Million Dollar Spaghetti: Swap the ground beef with shredded rotisserie chicken or cooked, diced chicken breast for a lighter, poultry-based version.
- Gluten-Free Baked Million Dollar Spaghetti: Use gluten-free spaghetti or another gluten-free pasta variety to make this dish suitable for those with gluten sensitivities.
- Spicy Baked Million Dollar Spaghetti: Add some heat to the dish with crushed red pepper flakes or diced jalapeños for a spicy kick.
How to Store Baked Million Dollar Spaghetti
- Serve: Do not leave this recipe, which contains meat and dairy, at room temperature for longer than 2 hours.
- Store: Cover with foil or plastic wrap and store Million Dollar Spaghetti in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat individual slices in the microwave for 1-3 minutes.
- Freeze: To freeze Million Dollar Spaghetti, follow the instructions above for freezer storage prior to baking, and keep frozen for up to 3 months. You can also freeze leftover Baked Million Dollar Spaghetti, just allow it to thaw before reheating it in the microwave or oven.
Ingredients
- 1 pound spaghetti , cooked two minutes shy of directions and drained
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 medium onion , chopped
- 2 cloves garlic , minced
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- 6 cups Quick and Easy Marinara Sauce
- 8 ounces cream cheese , softened
- 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- parsley , chopped (optional as a garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large skillet add the beef, onions, garlic, salt and pepper into the pan and cook on high.
- Once browned, turn off the heat, drain the liquid left in the pan and mix in one cup of the marinara sauce.
- Add the cooked spaghetti to the remaining 5 cups of the marinara sauce and toss to combine.
- Mix the cream cheese and 2 cups of mozzarella cheese in a bowl.
- Add half the pasta/sauce to the bottom of a 9 x 13 pan.
- Add the cream cheese mixture and top with the remaining pasta/sauce mixture.
- Add the meat sauce mixture on top of the pasta and top with remaining cup of mozzarella cheese.
- Cover and bake for 30 minutes.
- Uncover and bake for an additional 10 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly
Video
Nutrition
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This one is in the books..A recipe to be passed down!!
I made this and everyone loved it !! I’ll definitely be making it again !!
Can I use macaroni in place of spaghetti noodles?
You certainly could, most pastas would probably work pretty well!
I’m going to make this tonight but the directions are a little confusing. When I was reading it I thought the pasta/sauce what is the meat mixture so it sounded like the spaghetti was being put in upside down LOL I had to re read a few times
I was following the instructions and I did all the steps in order and was just about ready to put the casserole pan in the oven until I saw the other 1/2 of pasta/sauce mixture still sitting in the pan. The directions never mentioned where to put the other 1/2 of pasta/sauce mixture. Did I mis-read these instructions or I did something wrong. I’m sure it will come out great, after all anything with cream cheese is good.
Hi! Yes step 6 says to use half, and step 7 says to use the remaining. Hope you enjoy!
Made this last night for dinner – followed recipe with the exception that I used Rao’s marinara sauce. It was absolutely delicious. Definitely the only recipe I’ll use for baked spaghetti from now on! Thank you for sharing!
Used ground turkey instead of ground beef and whole wheat angel hair pasta. Divided into two 8×8 pans. Had one for family that night and froze the other. Very good reviews from the family.
Did you bake it the same amount of time even though you split in half? I’m doing this for ‘first time parents’ and want to cook one and take one for them to freeze, as well.
Hi this looks delish I am definitely cooking up this recipe tonight for my bf. He has severe allergies just wondering what can I replace with onion? Also 8 ounces of cream cheese is how much in tablespoons? 1 pound of spaghetti means 1 package? Would really appreciate it. Thank you so very much
This was the best spaghetti I have ever made. The cream cheese is the key but I also chopped my onion and added bell pepper, cut finely. So good!!
Will be making but you don’t specify what size spaghetti to use?
What kind of spaghetti do you use (angel hair, linguine,thick)?
I usually use the thick spaghetti. But it would work if you prefer another type!
Will be making but you don’t specify what size spaghetti to use?
I used just the standard day to day spaghetti.
It’s true! It’s true! This recipe makes a FABULOUS baked spaghetti! Doesn’t look much different than others until you take a bite and taste that ooey, gooey cheese layer. Wow! It is just my husband and I who live in the house now, so I split the casserole into 3 smaller containers and froze two of them while baking the third, not realizing how delicious this is. We finished it in two meals! I don’t imagine the other two casseroles will remain frozen for long! Thank you so much for the recipe. You have a true believer!
This is the best spaghetti ever! I have made it so many times I’ve lost count. My 96 year old Mother says it’s the best she’s ever eaten. I just made it again last night – 2 of us eat almost all of the 9 x13 pan, freeze what’s left & eat it again. Thank you so much for the recipe! P.S – I also make your homemade marinara sauce
Love, love, love this recipe! Making it again tonight with salad and garlic bread. Thanks
I bought all in ingredients and am so ready to make this for a potluck. If I take it to the point for baking in oven but want to refrigerate it for 6 hours prior to baking, how much longer over 30 minutes
might I have to bake it? I am not a cook!
Maybe 10 or so minutes? It shouldnt be too much longer than that.
I like the baked spaghetti recipe!
I will make it tonight .
Thank you for sharing :).
It is just coming out of the oven and smells delish-I did some changes-used a large can of manwich and Michaels of Brooklyn spag sauce combined for the sauce. I also used 1 1/2 pounds of ground beef and three sweet sausages out of the skin cooked together with the onion, green pepper and garlic. I also used 12 oz of phili cream cheese mixed with sharp chedder cheese and sharp chedder on the top-cooked for 30 minutes and for the last ten minutes added pepperoni pieces on top and fresh basil and parsley. Awesome!!
Fabulous! Found this recipe and made it for my family and they love it. I make it often for them. This definitely will be a keeper!
I was in a rush and making 2 batches (one for us and one for a neighbor healing from surgery). I used an inexpensive store bought marinara and added a little Italian seasoning, onion powder and garlic powder to it for more flavor.
We loved this. As did our neighbor! This is something I will make again and again. Can’t wait to try it with your marinara sauce recipe.
Made this recipe the other night and it was amazing! What would you recommend as far as reheating it? I’d like to think that putting it in the oven at 350 for 15 minutes would be fine but wanted your advice. Thanks!
Can I make this without noodles? Does it need a binder like eggs, if I don’t use the noodles. I am keto and have gotten use to not eating the noodles.
Thanks!
You can just omit the noodles if you like!
Wonderful recipe. I did add 2/3 cup cottage cheese, Italian seasoning to cream cheese mix. Bake few extra minutes. Family loves it. Freezes well too.
So happy you enjoy it!
Could this be made in smaller portions say dividing it into meatloaf size tins to be baked for a couple instead of the large family meal and if so, how long would you cook this for?
Yes it could, I would bake for 25-30 minutes, long enough for it to brown and cook the middle through until it’s hot.
In search of spaghetti with a twist, I stumbled upon this recipe. I like it my husband loved it and kids were happy. I will definitely be making again. I did find it to needing a bit more sauce(preference). Happy cooking everyone.
This is so delicous! I am wondering if it would work to do everything but bake it the night before and then put it in the oven right before dinner? Has anyone tried that?
That’ll work! It may need to bake a little longer since it’ll be coming from the refrigerator. Just keep an eye on it.
So I just made this today, after finding this recipe this morning… I added ground pork( same amount as beef), I like to mix pork with beef. Anyway did follow the rest of your recipe- made a double batch ( in freezer for later date)actually- REALLY REALLY good. Will be on my rotation.. thank you for sharing thia
Thanks for the 5 stars, LaTina. Mixing the pork and beef adds such great flavor. Thanks for the suggestion.
Would adding ricotta to this recipe be a waste, because there is cream cheese already in this recipe?( like half cream cheese half ricotta)? Trying to use ricotta up.
You could use half cream cheese and half ricotta or all ricotta instead of the cream cheese, if you’d like. Either way would work!
I’ve made this several times! It’s a hit! But I load it up with veggies and I always double the recipe and put one in the freezer for later or to give to a friend in need. I chop up tiny carrots, bell peppers and spinach with it. I also found about 1.3 lbs beef per pan is better, or I just don’t use as much pasta. Speaking of pasta, I use whole wheat spaghetti noodles and no one even notices cause there’s so much goodness going on. Thanks!
Thanks for the suggestions, Kayla.
Great recipe! I only cook for 2 of us, so I halved everything and baked it in a medium-sized casserole. Even with half a recipe, there was plenty for supper and lots of leftovers as well. Used the microwave to soften the cream cheese–it got super soft and was easy to combine with the shredded Italian cheese and dollop onto the first spaghetti layer. That cheese layer is what sets this recipe apart and earns it the Million Dollar title. I think next time, I’ll try garlic/herb or veggie cream cheese in a tub to mix with the mozzarella.
Oooh, that sounds amazing! Thanks for the 5 stars, Julie.
How long do I bake for a double recipe? I didn’t see the sliding scale you mentioned in one of the previous comments. Thanks!
It would depend on if you’re making two lasagnas at once or one very large lasagna. If it’s two at once, you may only need to add about 10 additional minutes just make sure they are side by side in the oven or if they are one top of each other on different racks, make sure to swap them half way to ensure they’re cooked through. Good luck! Oh and the slider tool will pop up when you hover over the serving size.
I have made this two times and it always gets rave reviews. Help – I misplaced the marinara recipe and I see that there is no link for it in this recipe. It would be appreciated if you could link the two recipes, especially for people who are making it for the first time.
Thanks Sabrina – you ROCK
Here’s the direct link:
https://dinnerthendessert.com/easy-marinara-sauce/
I’m so glad to know it’s such a hit!
Love, love, love this dish! Made it several times and always serve it to company with a side salad. However, I struggle every time with the cream cheese & mozzarella mixture. So hard to mix and cannot be spread onto the spaghetti. I let it warm to room temp. Do you or anyone have an easier way to do this part?
I just scoop some up and make dollops in the pan. No need to smear it around as it’ll melt once baked. There’s a video of it on our Facebook page that you can refer to. Hope this helps! So glad you love it.
Hi! I just made this for the first time last night and it was a big hit!! The only thing that was weird is that the cream cheese mixture didn’t melt spread out; it kind of just melted where I “dolloped” it. Have any suggestions as to why that happened? Thank you!!
Hi! I am not sure! Maybe try smaller dollops more spread out? I’m sorry it didn’t turn out as expected :/.
Good recipe altogether. Only adjustments I would say is 1 lb of beef is not enough for a whole pound of spaghetti. I used 1 lb
angel hair pasta, 1 lb ground beef and 1 lb Italian sausage. I don’t think there would’ve been enough meat if you use only 1 lb compared to a whole pound of heavy pasta. Otherwise, you can keep the recipe the same and still get a great result! Also like to layer it, similar to a lasagna, rather than putting all the meat on top
I love this recipe, so cheesy and filling. I add mushrooms to mine. Doesn’t last long!
Thanks for the 5 stars, Linda. I’m glad to know it’s such a hit.
How many re pies of easy marinate are needed for this recpie
The marinara recipe yields 4 cups and you need 6 cups for this recipe so just increase it by half. Hope this helps!
I love this recipe and am freezing one pan for a friend. What should I tell her about baking it? Thaw first? Can it be baked from frozen? If so how long?
So, I put a few of my own twists on this and it turned out great! I used two cups of sauce to mix with the pasta instead of just one. I also jazzed up my meat sauce with some red wine, maple syrup and my secret ingredient fish sauce (don’t knock til you tried it lol)! The added some heavy whipping cream to the cream cheese mixture so it wasn’t quite so dry. And finally, I topped the casserole with a mixture of garlic herb butter, panko bread crumbs, minced Italian parsley and grated pecorino Romano cheese.
Made it as per described in directions.
First time doing a meal like this, but from responses it will not be the last.
Made this last nite. Delicious!!! I used both ground beef and pork sausage. I no longer use the pre-shredded cheese in any flavor (cheddar, mozzarella, taco blend) because I’m not a fan of the preservatives they use to keep it from clumping. I had some BelGioioso Pre-Sliced Fresh Mozzarella and that makes pizza, lasagna and this dish so good. I just cut it into some chunks and mixed it in with the cream cheese. I’m anxious for the leftovers tonight with salad, rolls and a glass of wine!
Thanks for sharing. I’m anxious to try more of your recipes. Happy Thanksgiving to all.
You are so kind! Thank you for the review! Happy Thanksgiving!
how to make this spaghetti for my Thanksgiving dinner with the cream cheese and sour cream in it and I’m just fascinated about it thank you
This was absolutely delicious!!! My kids tore it up. I am making it again tonight for all their cousins!!!! Thank you for a great go to meal!!
Love this recipe! We have made it several times. We found 1 lb of meat isn’t enough so we use 2. We also have some family members with gluten intolerance so we use gluten free pasta and you can’t even tell the difference. Our favorite is the brown rice/quinoa/corn blend from Ronzoni. One of my kids loves spaghetti but 2 others never have until my husband found this recipe!
Perfect! Glad you’re able to easily adjust it to your family.
Can you use fat-free cream cheese or would that ruin the recipe?
I’d opt for a low fat vs fat free.
This was really good! I made the recipe exactly as written (ok, ok – except for the bits of cream cheese I couldn’t stop myself from eating before adding it in). Adding this to my list of future recipes!
We tried this tonight and loved it. I think the cream cheese is a great idea and gives a super flavour. Thanks for another great meal.
This looks wonderful. Can I use meatball on top instead of mixing beef into the sauce.
I’ve not tested that before. If you decide to try, I’d love to know how it turns out.
What would be a good substitute for cream cheese in this recipe? None of us are big fans of cream cheese, except maybe a smear on a bagel. Ricotta, cottage cheese, and marscapone are no-go’s as well. Thanks again! Dig your recipes!
Hmm, I’d have to say sour cream. Be sure to do it in spoonfuls, don’t spread too thin. It should still be delicious! Thank you for the kind words about the recipes!
Made this tonight but didn’t have enough mozz or any cream cheese, so used 4 oz goat chz with some mozz and mostly cheddar jack. Also forgot to add the salt/pepper. It was amazing! Served with hawaiian rolls/butter. Everyone is going for thirds….
Can I half the recipe? Would that be a half box of pasta?
You can use the slider tool in the recipe card to adjust all the ingredients down to half. Enjoy!
Can I use whipped cream cheese its all I have?
I’m so sorry I missed this comment. Yes, I’ve used cream cheese with this recipe and it’s been delicious!
soooo good! much better than plan noodles. very easy to make .
Can I make/assemble in the morning and bake that evening?
Yes, just keep refrigerated. Enjoy!
Do you cut cream cheese in pieces or what? Can’t wait to try it
You’ll just add dollops of the mixture throughout. Enjoy!
Tastes really good; however it took more than 30 minutes to heat it through.
well yeah it does it said to cook it 30 mins w/ foil than 10 w/o foil. 30+10=40
30<40
I really enjoyed this recipe! I had made baked spaghetti before, but couldn’t find the recipe and so I am glad I found yours. I wanted the recipe to include the cream cheese because it makes that cheese layer extra special! Thank you I always enjoy your recipes!!
That’s so kind of you to say, thank you so much!
I don’t have any foil to cover the glass pan with. Would it work if I put a cookie sheet on top? I can’t get out to the store.
It’s better than nothing. Good luck!