A decadent baked spaghetti casserole layered with savory sausage, rich marinara, and a creamy cheese filling—topped with bubbling mozzarella for the ultimate comfort food!
Ingredients
Main Layers
-
1 lb uncooked spaghetti
-
1 lb Italian sausage (hot or mild), casings removed
-
½ medium onion, chopped
-
4 cloves garlic, minced
-
½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
-
2 (24 oz) jars marinara sauce (or 5 cups homemade)
-
Salt & black pepper to taste
Cheese Filling
-
8 oz cream cheese, softened
-
1 cup sour cream
-
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
-
¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
Topping
-
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
-
½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Instructions
1. Prep the Pasta & Meat
-
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
-
Cook spaghetti al dente (1-2 mins less than package instructions). Drain and set aside.
-
In a skillet, brown sausage over medium heat, breaking it into crumbles (~5 mins). Add onion, garlic, and red pepper flakes; cook until soft (~3 mins). Drain excess fat.
-
Stir in marinara sauce and simmer 5 mins. Season with salt & pepper.
2. Make the Cheese Filling
-
In a bowl, mix cream cheese, sour cream, Parmesan, and parsley until smooth.
3. Assemble the Casserole
-
Spread ½ the cooked spaghetti in the baking dish.
-
Dollop all the cheese filling over the pasta, spreading gently.
-
Top with remaining spaghetti, then pour the sausage-marinara mixture evenly over the top.
-
Sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan.
4. Bake
-
Cover with foil and bake 30 mins. Uncover and bake 10-15 mins more until cheese is golden and bubbly.
-
Let rest 10 mins before serving. Garnish with extra parsley.
Pro Tips
🔥 Extra crispy top? Broil 2-3 mins at the end.
🍖 No sausage? Use ground beef or turkey.
🧀 Cheese hack: Add 1 cup ricotta to the filling for extra creaminess.
Serving Ideas
-
Pair with garlic bread and a Caesar salad.
-
Leftovers reheat beautifully (add a splash of water to keep moist).
Why “Million Dollar”? The rich cheese filling makes it taste indulgent! 💰🍝