Crockpot Million Dollar Spaghetti

A comforting dish combining the flavors of lasagna in a simplified, slow-cooked spaghetti recipe, perfect for busy nights.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 5

Total Time: 5 15

Course: Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: comfort food, Crockpot Spaghetti, Easy Dinner, One Pot Meal, Slow Cooker

Servings: servings

Calories: 520kcal

Ingredients

Meat Ingredients

1 lb ground beef (or Italian sausage) Can also use ground turkey.

Sauce and Cheese Ingredients

1 jar marinara or pasta sauce (24 oz) Store-bought recommended.
8 oz cream cheese, softened Ensure it's softened for ease of mixing.
1 cup cottage cheese or ricotta Use whichever cheese you prefer.
½ cup sour cream Regular or light version can be used.
½ teaspoon garlic powder Adjust to taste.
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning Can add more for extra flavor.

Pasta and Cheese Topping

12 oz spaghetti, broken in half (uncooked) Breaking helps it fit better and cook evenly.
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese More cheese can be added for extra cheesiness.
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese Can substitute with any hard cheese if preferred.

Seasoning

Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

Preparation

In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef or Italian sausage until fully cooked, and drain any excess grease.
Stir in the marinara sauce with the cooked meat and set aside.
In a mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, cottage cheese (or ricotta), sour cream, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Mix until smooth.
Spray the inside of the crockpot with nonstick spray.

Layering

Start with ⅓ of the meat sauce as the first layer in the crockpot.
Add half of the uncooked spaghetti on top of the meat sauce.
Layer half of the cheese mixture over the spaghetti.
Repeat the layers, starting with the meat sauce, then the uncooked spaghetti, and ending with the remaining meat sauce on top.
Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese over the top layer of meat sauce.

Cooking

Cover the crockpot and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours until the pasta is tender and the casserole is bubbly.
Once done, allow to rest for 10-15 minutes before serving.

Notes

This dish pairs well with a green salad or garlic bread. You can add extra Parmesan or herbs for garnish while serving. For substitutions, consider adding spinach or mushrooms for added nutrients.

Nutrition

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!