If there’s one dinner my family will never say no to, it’s this creamy baked spaghetti. You may have seen versions of this floating around online called “million dollar spaghetti,” and I get the hype. It’s comforting, creamy, filling, and surprisingly easy to pull together which is exactly what I’m looking for on busy weeknights.
This is one of those meals that feels a little extra, but doesn’t require anything fancy. It feeds the whole family, reheats well, and honestly just makes dinner feel taken care of.
Why This Is a Family Favorite
- Easy to prep with simple ingredients
- Kid-approved, my toddler loves it
- Perfect for busy weeknights or make-ahead dinners
- Comfort food that actually fills everyone up
Want More Dinners Like This?
This creamy baked spaghetti is exactly the kind of meal I plan for my Meal Club. If you’re tired of figuring out what’s for dinner every single night, I create weekly family-friendly meal plans that make life easier —with simple recipes, grocery lists, and no overthinking required. You can learn more and join here.
Creamy Baked Spaghetti (Viral Million Dollar Spaghetti)
Ingredients
Pasta and Meat Sauce
- 1 lb spaghetti
- 1 lb ground beef or half beef/half Italian sausage
- 1 small onion diced
- ½ green bell pepper diced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 24 oz jar marinara sauce
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
creamy Alfredo Layer
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 cups heavy cream or half and half
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt & pepper to taste
- pinch of nutmeg optional but sooo good
For Topping
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella or more
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add 1 tbsp salt, then add the spaghetti. Cook the spaghetti until just al dente (it will cook more in the oven). Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef with diced onion and green bell pepper then add the garlic. Cook until beef is browned and onions are soft, breaking the meat into small pieces.
- Season the beef with Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Pour in the marinara sauce and stir well. Let it simmer 10-15 minutes while you prep the alfredo sauce.
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt 4 tbsp butter. Add the minced garlic and sautee for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
- Reduce heat to medium-low. Slowly add the heavy cream, whisking constantly so it stays smooth. Season with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and pinch of nutmeg and let it gently simmer for about 2-3 minutes.
- Add parmesan (and mozzarella if using) a little at a time, stirring until melted.
- Combine the cooked spaghetti noodles with the alfredo sauce making sure that all the noodles are coated with the sauce.
- Transfer the spaghetti alfredo to a 9×13 baking dish then spoon the entire meat sauce mixture evenly over the noodles.
- Evenly sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese on top and bake Bake at 350°F for 30–35 minutes. Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes before cutting.
