Crockpot Million Dollar Spaghetti Recipe
Crockpot Million Dollar Spaghetti is a comforting, cheesy, and hearty slow cooker pasta casserole featuring layers of seasoned ground beef, rich cream cheese mixture, and tender spaghetti, all topped with melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. This easy-to-make recipe is perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekends, delivering maximum flavor with minimal effort.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 to 5 hours
- Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes to 5 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Sauce
- 1 lb ground beef (or Italian sausage)
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara or pasta sauce
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Cheese Mixture
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup cottage cheese or ricotta
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Other Ingredients
- 12 oz spaghetti, broken in half (uncooked)
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Brown the Meat: In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef (or Italian sausage) until fully cooked, breaking it apart as it cooks. Drain excess grease to prevent a greasy casserole, then stir in the marinara sauce. Set this meat sauce mixture aside.
- Prepare the Cheese Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine softened cream cheese, cottage cheese (or ricotta), sour cream, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly until smooth and creamy.
- Layer the Crockpot: Spray the inside of the crockpot with nonstick spray to ensure easy cleanup and prevent sticking. Begin layering by spreading one-third of the meat sauce on the bottom. Next, add half of the uncooked spaghetti over the sauce layer, distributing evenly. Then spread half of the cheese mixture over the spaghetti. Repeat the layers with the remaining half of the spaghetti, the remaining cheese mixture, and finish by topping with the remaining meat sauce.
- Add Cheese Toppings: Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese evenly over the top layer to create a delicious, cheesy crust.
- Cook: Cover the crockpot and cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours. Check at the 4-hour mark to ensure the pasta is tender and the casserole is bubbly but not overcooked, as pasta can become mushy if left too long.
- Rest and Serve: Once done, let the casserole rest for 10 to 15 minutes inside the crockpot with the lid off before serving. This helps the dish set and makes it easier to scoop onto plates. Enjoy your cheesy, slow-cooked million dollar spaghetti!
Notes
- Do not overcook the pasta; check for doneness around the 4-hour mark to avoid mushy spaghetti.
- Use full-fat cream cheese and sour cream for best creamy texture and flavor.
- For an extra golden and bubbly top, sprinkle additional mozzarella and Parmesan cheese and broil briefly if your crockpot insert is oven-safe.
- You can substitute ground beef with Italian sausage for added flavor.
- Breaking the spaghetti in half helps it cook evenly and fit better in the crockpot.
Keywords: crockpot, slow cooker, million dollar spaghetti, cheesy pasta, easy dinner, comfort food, layered casserole, creamy spaghetti
