Million Dollar Spaghetti (Print View)

Comforting baked spaghetti layered with meat sauce, creamy Alfredo, and melted cheese for a hearty main dish.

# Components:

→ Pasta

01 - 1 pound spaghetti

→ Meat Sauce

02 - 1 pound ground beef
03 - 1/2 pound Italian sausage, casings removed
04 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
05 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 24 ounces jar marinara sauce
07 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
08 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Alfredo Layer

10 - 15 ounces ricotta cheese
11 - 1 cup Alfredo sauce
12 - 1/2 cup sour cream
13 - 1 large egg

→ Cheeses

14 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
15 - 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - Boil spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
03 - In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook ground beef and Italian sausage, breaking into pieces, until browned. Drain excess fat.
04 - Add diced onion and minced garlic to the meat; cook for 3 to 4 minutes until softened.
05 - Stir in marinara sauce, Italian herbs, salt, and black pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes, then remove from heat.
06 - Combine ricotta cheese, Alfredo sauce, sour cream, and egg in a bowl. Mix until smooth.
07 - Spread half of the cooked spaghetti in the baking dish. Top evenly with half of the Alfredo mixture, half of the meat sauce, 1 cup mozzarella, and 1/2 cup Parmesan.
08 - Repeat layers with remaining spaghetti, Alfredo mixture, meat sauce, then finish with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.
09 - Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
10 - Remove foil and bake uncovered for additional 10 minutes until cheese is golden and bubbly. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It feeds eight people without requiring you to spend hours in the kitchen.
  • The combination of Alfredo and meat sauce in the same bite hits a craving you didn't know you had.
  • Leftovers taste even better the next day when the flavors meld together.
02 -
  • Do not skip draining the meat properly—fat will pool on top and make the final dish greasy, no matter how good everything else tastes.
  • The spaghetti will continue cooking in the oven, so stopping just before al dente is essential or you'll end up with mushy pasta.
  • Make sure the ricotta mixture is completely smooth; any lumps will stay lumpy and create an unpleasant texture.
03 -
  • Brown the meat in two batches if your skillet is small—crowded meat steams instead of browning, and browning is where the flavor lives.
  • Taste the meat sauce before layering; season it boldly because the cheese will dilute the salt and spice as everything bakes together.
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