Description
Tik Tok Million Dollar Spaghetti is a rich and indulgent layered pasta dish combining creamy homemade Alfredo sauce with a savory marinara meat sauce topped with a blend of melted cheeses. This comforting casserole features angel hair or spaghetti pasta smothered in luxurious cheeses, creamy butter and cream sauce, and a hearty beef and sausage tomato sauce baked to bubbly perfection, making it a show-stopping family-friendly meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 lb. angel hair pasta or spaghetti
Meat Sauce
- 1/2 lb. ground beef 80/20
- 1/2 lb. hot Italian sausage (mild works too)
- 1/2 onion, diced
- 1/2 green bell pepper, diced
- 10 garlic cloves, minced, divided
- 32 oz. marinara sauce
- 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste
Alfredo Sauce
- 1 stick butter (8 tablespoons), divided
- 3 cups heavy cream
- 2 cups freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 3 tbsp cream cheese, softened
- Salt, red pepper flakes, and freshly cracked pepper, to taste
Topping
- 2/3 cup mozzarella cheese
- 2/3 cup fontina cheese, shredded
- 2/3 cup provolone cheese, shredded
- Parsley for topping
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (for browning meat)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the assembled casserole.
- Make Alfredo Sauce: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for the pasta. In a large skillet over medium-low heat, melt 6 tablespoons of butter. Add half of the minced garlic and stir until fragrant. Pour in the heavy cream and bring it to a low boil, then reduce to a simmer for about 5 minutes to thicken. Add parmesan cheese and cream cheese, whisking until melted and the sauce thickens. Season with salt, red pepper flakes, and freshly cracked pepper to taste.
- Cook Pasta: Add the pasta to the boiling salted water and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Drain the pasta and return it to the pot. Pour the prepared Alfredo sauce over the pasta and toss to coat evenly. Clean out the skillet used for the Alfredo sauce for the next step.
- Brown the Meat and Vegetables: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in the cleaned skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and Italian sausage, breaking up the meat with a spoon as it cooks. After about 2 minutes, add the diced onion, green bell pepper, and the remaining minced garlic, sautéing until vegetables soften and meat is browned.
- Add Marinara Sauce: Pour the marinara sauce into the skillet with the meat mixture. Add Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to taste. Stir everything together and simmer briefly to meld flavors.
- Assemble the Casserole: Grease a large cast iron skillet or a 9×13 inch casserole dish. Spread the Alfredo-sauced pasta evenly in the bottom of the dish. Pour the meat marinara sauce evenly over the top and smooth with a spatula.
- Add Cheese Topping: Sprinkle shredded mozzarella, fontina, and provolone cheeses evenly over the top of the assembled spaghetti and sauce.
- Bake: Place the baking dish into the preheated oven and bake at 400°F for 20 minutes until bubbly and hot. Optionally, broil for an additional 5 minutes for a golden cheese crust.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from the oven and sprinkle with fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
- Just like lasagna, the sauce can bubble over and spill onto the bottom of the oven. To prevent this, place a baking sheet lined with foil on the rack below the baking dish.
- Use mild Italian sausage if you prefer less heat.
- Allow the Alfredo sauce to thicken more as it cools if it seems thin initially.
- Freshly grated parmesan cheese yields better melting and flavor than pre-shredded.
- Using a cast iron skillet enhances caramelization and heat distribution.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1/6 of recipe)
- Calories: 720
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 820mg
- Fat: 45g
- Saturated Fat: 24g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 135mg
