Million Dollar Spaghetti
Million Dollar Spaghetti
Ingredients
For the Meat Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef, 80/20 lean
- 1/2 yellow onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can crushed tomatoes, 28 ounce
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
For the Spaghetti
- 8 ounces spaghetti
For the Cheese Layer
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375
- 2
Cook the spaghetti according to package directions until al dente. Drain well and set aside.
⏱️ 10 min
- 3
While the spaghetti cooks, prepare the meat sauce. Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned. Drain any excess grease.
⏱️ 8 min
- 4
Add chopped yellow onion to the skillet with the beef and cook until softened, about 3-5 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
⏱️ 5 min
- 5
Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and let it cook for at least 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Stir occasionally.
⏱️ 10 min
- 6
In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, softened cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg, fresh parsley, salt, and black pepper. Mix until well combined and smooth.
⏱️ 5 min
- 7
Assemble the dish: Spread half of the cooked spaghetti evenly in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Top with the entire ricotta cheese mixture, spreading it gently over the spaghetti. Sprinkle 1 cup of the shredded mozzarella cheese over the ricotta layer.
⏱️ 5 min
- 8
Spoon the meat sauce evenly over the mozzarella cheese. Top with the remaining half of the cooked spaghetti. Finish by sprinkling the remaining 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese over the top.
⏱️ 5 min
- 9
Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the edges are lightly browned. Let stand for 5-10 minutes before serving to allow it to set.
⏱️ 30 min•🌡️ 375
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Million Dollar Spaghetti
Ingredients
For the Meat Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef, 80/20 lean
- 1/2 yellow onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can crushed tomatoes, 28 ounce
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
For the Spaghetti
- 8 ounces spaghetti
For the Cheese Layer
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375 - 2
Cook the spaghetti according to package directions until al dente. Drain well and set aside.
⏱️ 10 min - 3
While the spaghetti cooks, prepare the meat sauce. Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned. Drain any excess grease.
⏱️ 8 min - 4
Add chopped yellow onion to the skillet with the beef and cook until softened, about 3-5 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
⏱️ 5 min - 5
Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and let it cook for at least 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Stir occasionally.
⏱️ 10 min - 6
In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, softened cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg, fresh parsley, salt, and black pepper. Mix until well combined and smooth.
⏱️ 5 min - 7
Assemble the dish: Spread half of the cooked spaghetti evenly in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Top with the entire ricotta cheese mixture, spreading it gently over the spaghetti. Sprinkle 1 cup of the shredded mozzarella cheese over the ricotta layer.
⏱️ 5 min - 8
Spoon the meat sauce evenly over the mozzarella cheese. Top with the remaining half of the cooked spaghetti. Finish by sprinkling the remaining 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese over the top.
⏱️ 5 min - 9
Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the edges are lightly browned. Let stand for 5-10 minutes before serving to allow it to set.
⏱️ 30 min•🌡️ 375