If you are a spaghetti lover you will be obsessed with this Baked Million Dollar Spaghetti.
If your house is like mine, spaghetti is a staple often on a meal rotation about every other week so we were in need of a switch up on the old boring spaghetti and this one hits the mark! After trying this Baked Million Dollar Spaghetti you may never have regular spaghetti again.
I mean look at this deliciousness! Mouthwatering right?
In the realm of family dinners, there’s one dish that stands out as a surefire crowd-pleaser: Million Dollar Spaghetti. This delightful concoction of pasta, cheese, sauce, and ground beef has become a beloved staple in households across the globe, especially among moms. But what makes this dish so special? Why is it the go-to choice for busy moms looking to satisfy hungry mouths? Let’s dive in and uncover the secrets behind the allure of Million Dollar Spaghetti.
First and foremost, Million Dollar Spaghetti is a comfort food masterpiece. Its layers of cheesy goodness, savory meat sauce, and perfectly cooked pasta evoke feelings of warmth and nostalgia. For moms, creating a meal that not only fills bellies but also warms hearts is a top priority, and Million Dollar Spaghetti delivers on both fronts.
One of the main appeals of this dish is its simplicity. With just a handful of ingredients and minimal prep work, moms can whip up a hearty and satisfying meal in no time. After a long day of juggling work, errands, and household chores, the last thing any mom wants is a complicated recipe that requires hours in the kitchen. Million Dollar Spaghetti provides the perfect solution—a quick and easy dinner option that doesn’t sacrifice flavor.
Furthermore, Million Dollar Spaghetti is incredibly versatile. Moms can customize the dish to suit their family’s preferences, whether that means adding extra vegetables, if you make your own sauce you can blend in extra vegetables and your kids will never know. Swapping out ground beef for turkey, or incorporating different types of cheeses. This flexibility allows moms to cater to picky eaters and dietary restrictions without breaking a sweat.
Another reason why Million Dollar Spaghetti reigns supreme in mom’s kitchens is its ability to feed a crowd without breaking the bank. With its budget-friendly ingredients and generous portions, this dish is perfect for family gatherings, potlucks, and weeknight dinners alike. Plus, leftovers taste just as delicious the next day, making it a practical choice for busy moms looking to meal prep for the week ahead.
But perhaps the most compelling reason why Million Dollar Spaghetti is a favorite among moms is the joy it brings to the table. There’s something inherently comforting about sitting down to a heaping plate of cheesy, saucy goodness with the ones you love. It’s a meal that fosters togetherness and creates lasting memories—a sentiment that resonates deeply with moms striving to nurture their families in every way possible.
In conclusion, Million Dollar Spaghetti has earned its rightful place as every mom’s favorite family meal for a multitude of reasons. From its comforting flavors and simplicity to its versatility and affordability, this dish checks all the boxes for busy moms looking to provide a satisfying and memorable dining experience for their loved ones. So the next time you’re wondering what to make for dinner, look no further than Million Dollar Spaghetti—it’s a million-dollar meal that’s worth every penny.
Ingredients: Baked Million Dollar Spaghetti
- 1 lb ground beef
- 24 oz marinara
- 1 1 /2 tbsp Italian Seasoning
- 2 tbsp basil fresh
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 16 oz spaghetti noodles
- 2 eggs
- 4 tbsp garlic herb butter
- 24 oz cottage cheese can replace with ricotta
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese fresh- cut up
- 1/2 cup cheddar cheese
Instructions: Baked Million Dollar Spaghetti
- Preheat Oven 350
- In a skillet over medium high heat cook your ground beef. Add garlic and Italian seasoning.
- Once you have seasonings mixed in with beef, drain if needed and add marinara sauce
- Cut up fresh basil and add to the sauce and let it simmer on medium heat.
I love my SMART GARDEN that I have in my kitchen it allows me to have fresh herbs all year around.
- Fill pot with water and bring to a boil. Put in noodles until slightly cooked. Don't over cook noodles could cause it dish to be mushy.
- Take 2 eggs in a dish and slightly beat them into a scramble
- Once noodles are cooked strain them and let them cool off a bit (you can even rinse them a bit with cold water – however the starchiness of the noodles helps to lock flavors in so don't over rinse. Once noodles are cooled off add them back to the pot and add the eggs to the noodles and mix (again make sure noodles are cooled off you don't want the hot noodles to cook the egg)
- Don't have garlic herb butter you can use regular butter too. Or just mix some garlic, Italian seasoning, basil in softened butter and use that. I even like a little red pepper flakes in mine, but it does bring a little heat if you decide to add so keep that in mind.
- then add your garlic herb butter and combine well with noodles.
- Take a 9X13 dish and lightly spray with non stick spray.
- With tongs, add noodles into the dish as the bottom layer.
- Then take meat sauce and add half of it on top of the noodles.
- Then take cottage cheese and layer on top of meat sauce, and smooth over dish.
- Once you have smoothed over the cottage cheese take the remaining meat sauce and add it to the top of the cottage cheese layering the dish.
- Once you have all layers in dish for Baked Million Dollar Spaghetti add fresh mozzarella and cheddar cheese to top. Make sure to cover dish with foil. Lightly spray foil with non stick so the cheese doesn't stick to the top of the foil and stays on your dish.
- Bake at 350-35-34 mins until cheese has melted and bubbly
- Serve warm
This will hands down be a favorite for all.
Side idea for Baked Million Dollar Spaghetti:
Baked Million Dollar Spaghetti is perfectly paired with a side salad and garlic bread. We also love green beans with it.
Crazy Busy Mama Tip for Baked Million Dollar Spaghetti:
Don't do ground beef, this recipe can easily be substituted with ground turkey. And don't forget to spray that foil with non stick spray so your cheese doesn't stick to the top of the foil. This is a tip that I learned years ago and it has saved me so much cheese, funny but true!
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Video Tutorial: Baked Million Dollar Spaghetti
For those of you who love a step by step video tutorial, here is one for you!
Also, if you try this recipe and love it I would so appreciate it if you would leave a comment below and rate the recipe a 5-star to let me know how it was! That helps me know what kind of recipes you want to see more of.
Baked Million Dollar Spaghetti
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 24 oz marinara
- 1 1 /2 tbsp Italian Seasoning
- 2 tbsp basil fresh
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 16 oz spaghetti noodles
- 2 eggs
- 4 tbsp garlic herb butter
- 24 oz cottage cheese can replace with ricotta
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese fresh- cut up
- 1/2 cup cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven 350
- In a skillet over medium high heat cook your ground beef. Add garlic and Italian seasoning..
- Once you have seasonings mixed in with beef, drain if needed and add marinara sauce
- Cut up fresh basil and add to the sauce and let it simmer on medium heat.
- Fill pot with water and bring to a boil. Put in noodles until slightly cooked. Don't over cook noodles could cause it dish to be mushy.
- Take 2 eggs in a dish and slightly beat them into a scramble
- Once noodles are cooked strain them and let them cool off a bit (you can even rinse them a bit with cold water – however the starchiness of the noodles helps to lock flavors in so don't over rinse. Once noodles are cooled off add them back to the pot and add the eggs to the noodles and mix (again make sure noodles are cooled off you don't want the hot noodles to cook the egg) then add your garlic herb butter and combine well with noodles.
- Take a 9X13 dish and lightly spray with non stick spray.
- With tongs, add noodles into the dish as the bottom layer.
- Then take meat sauce and add half of it on top of the noodles.
- Then take cottage cheese and layer on top of meat sauce, and smooth over dish. Once you have smoothed over the cottage cheese take the remaining meat sauce and add it to the top of the cottage cheese layering the dish.
- Once you have all layers in dish add fresh mozzarella and cheddar cheese to top. Make sure to cover dish with foil. Lightly spray foil with non stick so the cheese doesn't stick to the top of the foil and stays on your dish.
- Bake at 350-35-34 mins until cheese has melted and bubbly
- Serve warm
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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I love this! I don’t get to make it often because only my husband and I eat meat. As delicious as it is, I don’t want to eat it for a week.
Love this! Easy family favorite
This is SO GOOD! my boys ask for this way too often, but we always plow through it!
Loved it! A nice allternative to our tradotional spaghetti dinner. It maintainedt the moisture in the noodles which was a delicious mix of meaty sauce and cheesy goodness. It served 6 of us tonight around the table, with leftovers for reheats.