There are a few things you can count on in the South. If a family welcomes a new baby, loses a loved one, faces an illness, or simply has a rough week, someone will show up at the door with food. It’s one of our most cherished traditions—a way of saying, “I’m thinking about you” when words don’t seem enough. While fried chicken and casseroles often get the spotlight, baked pasta dishes have earned their place on Southern tables because they’re hearty, comforting, easy to transport, and can feed a crowd without breaking the budget.

Million Dollar Spaghetti feels like a recipe that’s been passed down for generations, but it gained popularity during America’s casserole boom of the 1970s and 1980s. As baked pasta dishes found their way into church cookbooks, potlucks, and family reunions, home cooks embraced recipes that were affordable, easy to prepare, and could feed a crowd. This dish combines the best of spaghetti and lasagna, with layers of rich meat sauce and creamy cheeses that inspired its “million dollar” name. This recipe reheats beautifully and is somehow even better the next day.

Million Dollar Spaghetti
  • 1 lbs. spaghetti
  • 2 TBS butter
  • 1 32oz. jar Rao’s Marinara Sauce
  • 1 lbs. ground sirloin
  • 1 lbs. mild Italian sausage
  • 1 cup chopped onion
  • 1 tsp. garlic
  • 1 tsp. oregano
  • 1 tsp. basil
  • ¼ cup water
  • 2 TBS. tomato paste
  • 1-8 oz. cream cheese
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • ½ cup parmesan cheese
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese
  • Fresh parsley

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9 x 13 deep dish casserole.
  2. Cook spaghetti according to the package. Drain and toss with 2 TBS of butter and 1 cup of marinara sauce. Place in a 13 x 9 deep dish.
  3. Brown the sirloin and Italian sausage in a medium pot. Drain and return to the pot. Add 1 cup of onion and garlic. Sauté for 3-4 minutes. Add basil and oregano.
  4. Add the remaining marinara to the pot. Add ¼ cup of water to the Marinara jar. Shake and add to the sauce.
  5. Add 2 TBS. tomato paste. Allow to simmer while preparing the cheese mixture.
  6. Add softened cream cheese, ricotta cheese, and ½ cup parmesan. Mix and add to the top of the spaghetti mixture.
  7. Pour spaghetti sauce over cheese mixture. Top with 1 cup of mozzarella and fresh parsley.
  8. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes.
Search ingredients at FOOD CITY.

Dishing It Out is a place for Aneisa Rolen to share favorite recipes that require minimal preparation, limited culinary knowledge, yet provide maximum flavor, designed for the hesitant cook who loves good food but isn’t particularly a culinary enthusiast. The recipes provided will accompany the videos, making cooking accessible even to the most reluctant chefs.

Comments may be sent to dishingitoutktt@gmail.com and follow Aneisa on Instagram for more recipe ideas @ aneisarolen

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