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Crockpot Million Dollar Spaghetti

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This Crockpot Million Dollar Spaghetti is a creamy, cheesy, and hearty pasta bake made easy in the slow cooker. It’s a crowd-pleasing comfort food perfect for family dinners, potlucks, or make-ahead meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 16 oz spaghetti noodles (regular, whole wheat, or gluten-free, cooked al dente)
  • 1 lb ground beef (85% lean, or substitute ground turkey or sausage)
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, drained
  • 1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup cottage cheese (small curd)
  • 1 cup sour cream (or Greek yogurt)
  • 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • Cooking spray or olive oil (for greasing crockpot)
  • Optional: chopped spinach or kale
  • Optional: red pepper flakes
  • Optional: ground turkey or Italian sausage (swap for beef or use half-and-half)

Instructions

  1. Spray the crockpot insert generously with cooking spray or brush with olive oil.
  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add spaghetti noodles and cook for 7-8 minutes, until just shy of al dente. Drain and set aside.
  3. In a large skillet, brown ground beef over medium-high heat, breaking it up as it cooks (about 5-7 minutes). Add diced onion and cook until translucent, about 3 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook another 1 minute. Drain excess fat if needed.
  4. Pour in marinara sauce, drained diced tomatoes, and Italian seasoning. Season with salt and pepper. Let simmer for 5 minutes.
  5. In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, cottage cheese, and sour cream. Beat until smooth and fluffy.
  6. Spoon about 1 cup of the meat sauce into the bottom of the crockpot to cover.
  7. Add half of the cooked spaghetti, spreading evenly.
  8. Dollop half the cheese mixture over the noodles and gently spread.
  9. Sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella and a little parmesan.
  10. Repeat layers: meat sauce, remaining spaghetti, remaining cheese mixture, and another cup mozzarella and parmesan.
  11. Pour final layer of meat sauce on top and finish with the rest of the mozzarella and parmesan.
  12. Cover and cook on LOW for 3-4 hours or HIGH for 2 hours, until cheese is melted and bubbly.
  13. Let rest for 15-20 minutes with the lid off before serving. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired.

Notes

Undercook the pasta by a minute or two to prevent mushiness. Layering is key—start and finish with sauce and cheese. Let the cream cheese soften for easier mixing. Use a quality marinara for best flavor. If sauce is runny, simmer longer or add tomato paste. Leftovers reheat well and flavors improve overnight. Customize with different cheeses or add veggies as desired.

Nutrition

Keywords: crockpot, slow cooker, million dollar spaghetti, pasta bake, cheesy spaghetti, family dinner, comfort food, easy dinner, potluck, make ahead

Find it online: https://bitefuljoy.com/crockpot-million-dollar-spaghetti-recipe-easy-crowd-pleasing-dinner/