Crockpot Million Dollar Spaghetti – A Delectable Slow Cooker Pasta Casserole Recipe
Crockpot Million Dollar Spaghetti is a hearty and cheesy slow cooker pasta casserole that layers ground beef in marinara sauce, creamy cheese mixtures, and spaghetti noodles, resulting in a comforting one-pot meal perfect for easy weeknight dinners or cozy weekends.
- 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: Pasta Casserole
- 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
Pasta and Topping
- 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 until fully cooked. Drain off any excess grease. Stir in the marinara sauce, season with salt and pepper to taste, and set the meat sauce aside.
- Prepare Cheese Mixture: In a mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, cottage cheese (or ricotta), sour cream, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly until smooth and well blended.
- Layer in Crockpot: Spray the crockpot with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking. Layer the ingredients starting with one-third of the meat sauce at the bottom, followed by half of the uncooked broken spaghetti, then half of the cheese mixture. Repeat these layers once more, finishing with the remaining meat sauce on top.
- Add Cheese Toppings: Evenly sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese over the top layer of meat sauce.
- Cook Low and Slow: Cover the crockpot and cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours, until the spaghetti is tender and the casserole is bubbly and heated through. Check around the 4-hour mark to avoid overcooking and mushy pasta.
- Rest and Serve: Let the casserole rest in the crockpot for 10 to 15 minutes before serving to help it set. Scoop portions onto plates and enjoy your comforting cheesy slow cooker spaghetti!
Notes
- Do not overcook the pasta to prevent mushiness; start checking for doneness at 4 hours.
- Use full-fat cream cheese and sour cream for the creamiest texture.
- For an extra golden and crispy cheese topping, sprinkle additional cheese on top and broil briefly if your crockpot insert is oven-safe.
- This recipe is flexible: swap ground beef with Italian sausage for more flavor.
- Letting the dish rest after cooking allows flavors to meld and the casserole to firm up for easier serving.
Keywords: Million Dollar Spaghetti, Crockpot Spaghetti, Slow Cooker Pasta Casserole, Cheesy Spaghetti, Easy Dinner Recipe, Comfort Food
