Description
Million Dollar Spaghetti is a rich and creamy baked pasta dish featuring layers of al dente spaghetti coated in a luxurious Alfredo sauce, topped with a flavorful Cajun-seasoned ground beef marinara and gooey melted cheeses. Perfect for an indulgent dinner that pleases a crowd.
Ingredients
Scale
Spaghetti and Meat Sauce
- 16 ounces spaghetti noodles (cooked al dente)
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 1 green bell pepper, finely diced
- 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 24 ounce jar marinara sauce
Alfredo Sauce
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 2 cups shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Toppings
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray and set it aside. Cook the spaghetti noodles according to package directions until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Cook Meat Sauce: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the ground beef, diced onion, diced green bell pepper, Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, and Italian seasoning. Break the beef into crumbles and cook, stirring occasionally, until the beef is no longer pink and the vegetables have softened, about 10 minutes. Drain any excess grease.
- Simmer Meat Sauce: Stir in the marinara sauce, reduce heat to low, and let it simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally to develop flavors.
- Make Alfredo Sauce: In a Dutch oven or large stockpot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Stir in heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, kosher salt, and black pepper. Cook gently until the cheese melts and the sauce thickens slightly.
- Combine Spaghetti and Alfredo: Add the cooked spaghetti to the Alfredo sauce, stirring thoroughly to coat all the noodles evenly with the creamy sauce. Pour this mixture into the prepared baking dish.
- Add Meat Sauce Layer: Spoon the meat sauce evenly over the Alfredo-coated spaghetti in the baking dish.
- Add Cheese Topping and Bake: Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese evenly over the top. Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 15 minutes or until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven, garnish with dried parsley flakes if desired, and serve hot.
Notes
- This dish gains its name from its rich, indulgent layers of cheese and creamy sauce, creating a memorable meal.
- To save time, use pre-diced vegetables or frozen diced bell peppers and onions.
- For a slightly lighter version, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream, but expect less thickness in the Alfredo sauce.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator and reheat nicely in the oven or microwave.
- Adding a pinch of red pepper flakes to the meat sauce can enhance the spice level if desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 887 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 1244 mg
- Fat: 59 g
- Saturated Fat: 33 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 183 mg
