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Million Dollar Baked Spaghetti! Spaghetti tossed with butter, then layered with a creamy ricotta sauce and a simple slow-simmered tomato sauce made with spicy Italian sausage and ground beef. It’s comforting and delicious, and it looks so pretty coming out of the oven. You can even assemble it ahead of time. This is the perfect bake for holiday dinners or any cold winter night when you want something everyone at the table will love. Just add a big, beautiful salad and you’re set.
Yesterday we shared a big list of our favorite holiday dinners. This time of year, I’m constantly entertaining and cooking big meals for family most nights throughout December.
And during these last couple of weeks—when everyone slowly starts arriving for Christmas break—I’m usually cooking for anywhere from eight to twenty people! That means keeping dinners simple, cozy, and always delicious.
This time of year is just busy. So “easy, quick, and yummy” is always the goal.
Most years I make a version of my mom’s spaghetti pie—sometimes we call it million-dollar pasta. It’s a baked pasta layered with a very creamy white sauce and a slow-simmered meat sauce. My mom used to make it all the time!
Her recipe called for lots of eggs, but I make a simpler variation now that’s honestly even yummier (my brothers have confirmed it). We LOVE this baked pasta. It’s perfect because I can assemble everything ahead of time, then bake it right before dinner. Super easy and very hands-off.
I usually serve this the week leading up to Christmas with my Christmas salad. And my new garlic bread is coming soon—but I LOVE the garlic bread wreath with this bake.
These are the details
Ingredients
- dry pasta
- spicy Italian sausage
- ground beef
- onions
- bell peppers
- Italian seasoning
- canned tomatoes
- sun-dried tomatoes
- whole milk ricotta cheese
- cream cheese
- fresh parmesan
- mozzarella cheese
- provolone cheese
- pepperoni
- fresh basil or parsley
Special Tools
For this recipe, you’ll need a Dutch oven or other large skillet. Plus, a mixing bowl, wooden spoon, and cutting board.
The Steps
Step 1: Boil the Pasta
Cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions. Drain, then toss the hot pasta with softened butter. This keeps the noodles from sticking and adds the most delicious buttery flavor.
Step 2: Make the Red Sauce
Brown the spicy Italian sausage and ground beef with the onions, bell peppers, and Italian seasoning.
Nothing fancy—just a classic, cozy meat sauce my family loves!
Stir in the canned tomatoes or a large jar of marinara, plus a splash of water. Simmer until the sauce thickens and becomes rich. Add the sun-dried tomatoes and a handful of fresh basil.
Step 3: Mix the Ricotta Sauce
Use a food processor or simply a big bowl—both work great.
Combine the whole milk ricotta with cream cheese, and Parmesan until creamy and smooth.
Step 4: Layer Everything Together
In a large casserole dish, layer the red sauce, spaghetti, and the creamy white ricotta sauce. Finish with the remaining red sauce on top.
Add shredded mozzarella and provolone, then scatter slices of pepperoni over everything.
Step 5: Bake
Cover the dish and bake until the cheese is bubbling, melted, and beautifully browned on top.
Serving
Let the baked spaghetti rest for a few minutes so it can set up nicely before serving. Then top with fresh basil.
I love serving this with a big Christmas salad, garlic bread, and a bottle of wine for the family. The Tuscan red from our Seasonal Selection of Reds is my go-to.
Looking for more easy holiday dinners? Here are a few more to try!
Spicy Pesto Cheese Baked Rigatoni
Smothered Chicken in Mushroom Wine Pan Sauce
Crockpot Thai Short Ribs with Coconut Rice
Crockpot Short Rib Bourguignon
Lastly, if you make this Million Dollar Baked Spaghetti, be sure to leave a comment and/or rate this recipe! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And, of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Million Dollar Baked Spaghetti
Servings: 8
Calories Per Serving: 782 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1 pound dry spaghetti
- 6 tablespoons salted butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
- 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound ground spicy Italian sausage
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
- 1 bell pepper, chopped
- 32 ounces marinara sauce, or canned crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup shredded provolone cheese
- 1/2 cup sliced pepperoni
- fresh basil, for serving
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 350° F. 2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti until al dente, according to package directions. Drain and toss the pasta with butter.3. Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven set over medium heat, add the sausage, beef, onion, bell peppers, and Italian seasoning. Brown all over, 10 minutes. Add the tomatoes and 1 cup of water. Season with salt, pepper, and chili flakes. Simmer 10 minutes, until just slightly thickened. Add the sun-dried tomatoes and basil. Remove from the heat.4. In a bowl, mix the cream cheese, ricotta cheese, and parmesan. Season with salt and pepper. 5. In a large casserole dish, layer 1 cup of the meat sauce with the spaghetti, white sauce, and remaining meat sauce. Top with mozzarella, provolone cheese, and the pepperoni. Bake 30 minutes, until the cheese is melted. Let sit for 10 minutes. Top with fresh basil, and enjoy!
This post was originally published on December 11, 2025
Another hit from you! This was ultimate comfort food. I’m happy to bring this in a meal train coming up.
Hey Maddy,
Thanks so much! Love to hear you enjoyed this recipe, I appreciate you making it! Have a great day!
This dish is plentiful and delicious! I made it once in December, shortly after you posted. I was entertaining last night so I decided to make it again, as it is a very generous dish with it’s servings. All my guests loved it! I served it with a Cesar salad and focaccia bread. Sooo good! Definitely making it again! Thank you.
Hi Melinda,
Awesome!! Thanks a lot for making this recipe and your notes, so glad it was enjoyed!
Have a great Sunday!☃️
I made this for my extended family for Christmas Eve and everyone loved it! I served it with a winter salad and garlic bread.
Hey Diana,
Happy Friday!! Thrilled to hear this recipe turned out well for you, thanks so much for making it and taking the time to comment!
When preparing this recipe I didn’t know if you’re suppose to drain the fat after browning the meat. Also if you make ahead, does it need to cook longer or on a different temperature?
Hi Nicole,
If you have a lot of fat you can drain the meat. You can bake as directed if making ahead. I hope you love this recipe!
Happy Sunday!
Does all the pasta layer at the bottom of the dish? Or is it 2 layers of spaghetti and meat sauce with the white inbetween and cheese on top?
Hey Lisa,
You are going to layer all of the spaghetti over the meat sauce then add the white sauce and remaining meat sauce over the spaghetti.
I hope this makes sense!
This was so scrumptious!! The perfect Sunday dinner! Everyone loved it, thanks for sharing!
Hey Kelly,
Fantastic! I appreciate you making this recipe and your notes, love to hear it was enjoyed!
Have a great holiday week!🎄🎁
This was everything I imagined it to be…DELICIOUS!!! It satisfies both red sauce and white sauce lovers with the creamy cheese layer that coats the pasta. It takes some work so you won’t slam it together on a busy work night, but it’s perfect for a weekend meal or entertaining. It makes a lot so I’m looking forward to the leftovers. I substituted spicy chicken sausage for the Italian pork sausage and completely coated the top in pepperoni. This is soooo good!
Thanks so much, Lisa! I appreciate you making this recipe and your feedback, so glad it was enjoyed!
Looking so delish!!I will make this week! So sorry for such ignorance as far as reviews!!
Thank you and Merry Christmas 🎄🎄🎄
Thanks so much, Jan! I hope you love this recipe! Happy Holidays!
Could I make this ahead and freeze it? How I would bake after freezing?
Hey Joanna,
Totally! I would bake from frozen for 60 minutes. I hope you love this recipe, let me know how it turns out for you!
Honestly, I’m shocked by some of the ratings. My husband is still raving about this dish and how decadent it tasted! I used ground turkey and hot turkey sausage..and drained the fat before adding the tomatoes. The green bell pepper was surprisingly tasty in the sauce! And the pepperoni was ingenious! Thank you for so many inspiring recipes! Merry Christmas!
Hey Melanie,
Love to hear this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it and your comment!
Happy Holidays!🎄
Salted butter?
Hi Daney,
Yes, I like to use salted butter:)
Please let me know if you have any other questions!
This was really good and easy to make. I did not add sun dried tomatoes because I didn’t have them, but everything else was really great! Similar to a lasagna but with spaghetti noodles instead. Will make it again!
Hey Deanna,
Happy Friday!! I’m so glad to hear this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it and your comment!
Have a wonderful holiday season!🎄
Is this a recipe I can make ahead, like lasagna? I don’t see why not, but thought I would check. Thank you!
Hey Elisabeth,
Totally, that will work nicely for you! Please let me know if you have any other questions!
Happy Holidays!