Million Greenback Spaghetti – Panlasang Pinoy

June 16, 2025

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Revealed: 6/16/25

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Million Greenback Spaghetti is a staple throughout Southern American households, particularly in states like Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi. Folks typically serve it throughout potlucks, Sunday household lunches, or any get-together that requires a full oven tray and a cheerful crowd. Eating places that characteristic baked pasta dishes typically embrace it on the menu as a comforting go-to that pleases most diners. I personally like this dish when paired with toasted garlic bread and crisp salad. This pairing balances the richness with out overpowering something.

For this model of Million Greenback Spaghetti, I used a mix of floor beef and Italian sausage to construct that meat base. I crammed the middle with a full-bodied cheese combination that features ricotta, bitter cream, and cream cheese. Moreover, I used sharp cheddar each inside and on high to construct layers of taste within the style. This technique doesn’t depend on overly salty processed cheeses.

What’s Million Greenback Spaghetti?

Million Greenback Spaghetti, or typically referred to as “Millionaire Spaghetti,” is a baked pasta casserole made with layers of spaghetti, meat sauce, and a thick cheese combination within the center. It is sort of a mash-up between lasagna and baked ziti. It skips the pasta sheets and as a substitute makes use of spaghetti as the primary starch. The identify doubtless comes from its indulgent filling and golden high. It appears extravagant however makes use of on a regular basis components.

This baked Million Greenback Spaghetti has grown in reputation throughout the Southern United States. Oven-based meals typically seem on giant household tables. Exterior the U.S., different individuals recreate it as a result of it really works nicely for batch cooking. It additionally presents a wealthy and hearty base that doesn’t want difficult components.

Some additionally confuse Million Greenback Spaghetti with Baked Spaghetti. The latter solely makes use of plain marinara and mozzarella, however this model is far richer and creamier within the center. So in the event you thought lasagna was the one layered pasta sport on the town, this tacky quantity may change your thoughts. So let’s dig into the components subsequent.

Elements & Goal

Spaghetti noodles (32 ounces) – This pasta holds all the pieces collectively. I coat the noodles with butter whereas they’re nonetheless heat in order that they don’t clump and keep wealthy all through.
Sharp cheddar cheese (1 cup, shredded) – I like this cheese for the highest layer. It melts easily and provides a deeper style than different delicate cheeses.
Unsalted butter (1/2 cup, sliced into 6 parts) – Butter is cut up up for 2 causes: some goes with the noodles, and the remainder sits on high earlier than baking. It provides richness throughout layers.

For the sauce:

Floor beef (1 pound) – This provides a stable, hearty chew. The meat works as the bottom for taste and offers weight to the sauce.
Floor Italian sausage (1 pound) – I embrace this due to its additional seasonings like fennel and paprika. It helps break the monotony of plain beef and provides distinction.
Spaghetti sauce (48 ounces) – I often use jarred sauce right here for comfort, particularly once I want to arrange issues sooner. It units the tone for the meat and pasta to comply with.
Yellow onion (1, minced) – The onion softens and blends into the sauce, however its sweetness brings stability to the acidic tomato.
Garlic (5 cloves, minced) – I am going large on garlic. It deepens the flavour and doesn’t fade out throughout the baking.
Dried basil (1 teaspoon) – This provides a touch of herbiness. I keep on with dried as a result of it holds up higher beneath warmth.
Salt and floor black pepper (to style) – These two do the ultimate lifting. I add them regularly so I can regulate after the sauce simmers.

For the cheese layer:

Cream cheese (8 ounces, softened) – I let this sit at room temp so it folds simply. It acts as the bottom for the center layer and retains all the pieces creamy.
Bitter cream (1/2 cup) – Bitter cream cuts the richness a bit. It additionally helps the cream cheese mix with out being too thick.
Ricotta cheese (2 cups) – I exploit ricotta so as to add moisture and lightness. It retains the filling mushy with out turning right into a runny mess.
Mozzarella cheese (2 cups, shredded) – Mozzarella is right here for the pull. It melts into the filling however nonetheless holds form when sliced.
Sharp cheddar cheese (1 cup, shredded) – The second spherical of cheddar goes proper on high. It finishes the dish with a stable golden layer after baking.

Easy methods to Prepare dinner Million Greenback Spaghetti

Put together the Pasta Base – Boil 2 quarts of water in a big pot, then prepare dinner 32 ounces of spaghetti noodles till they flip al dente. Comply with the bundle directions. After draining, reserve among the pasta water for later use. Toss the noodles with 1/4 cup unsalted butter whereas they’re nonetheless scorching. This permits the butter to soften and coat evenly. This method retains the strands from sticking whereas including a mushy, wealthy base for the layers of Million Greenback Spaghetti.
Prepare dinner the Meat Sauce – Place a pot over excessive warmth and add 1 pound of floor beef. Let it prepare dinner till the fats renders. Then scoop the oil out earlier than including 1 pound of floor Italian sausage. Stir in 1 minced yellow onion and 5 minced garlic cloves, cooking for about 3 extra minutes. Pour in 48 ounces of spaghetti sauce and three/4 cup of pasta water. Let it boil, then scale back warmth to simmer for quarter-hour. Season with 1 teaspoon dried basil, salt, and floor black pepper to your style.
Combine the Cheese Layer – In a clear mixing bowl, mix 8 ounces of softened cream cheese, 1/2 cup bitter cream, 2 cups ricotta cheese, and a couple of cups shredded mozzarella cheese. Add 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese and fold till totally blended. I often do that step whereas the sauce is simmering. This protects time. This wealthy combination works as the center layer and contrasts with the tomato base.
Preheat and Start Meeting – Set your oven to 350 F. Whereas it preheats, begin assembling in a baking tray by inserting half of the buttered spaghetti on the underside. Unfold the noodle layer evenly and canopy each inch to assist the cheese above. Use a spatula to assist flatten and hold issues tidy. This primary layer serves as a basis for what comes subsequent in our Million Greenback Spaghetti.
Add Cheese and Repeat Layers – Unfold your complete cheese combination over the noodles, smoothing it from edge to edge. Add the remainder of the spaghetti on high and stage it out with a fork or spoon. Distribute the remaining 1/4 cup butter throughout this high layer whereas it’s nonetheless heat. This layering method locks within the cheese with out letting it bleed out.
Prime It Off and Bake – Pour all the meat sauce evenly over the second noodle layer. Remember to cowl the corners nicely so nothing dries out. Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded sharp cheddar cheese throughout the highest as the ultimate layer. Bake uncovered for 25 to 35 minutes till the highest cheese appears golden and set.
Cool Earlier than Serving – Take away the baking tray and let it relaxation for 10 minutes earlier than slicing. This ready interval permits the construction to settle, so the slices don’t crumble when served. It additionally helps the flavors mix extra totally. I at all times serve Million Greenback Spaghetti with heat garlic bread on the facet for a basic pairing. Take pleasure in!

Suggestions & Tips

Use Room Temperature Cream Cheese. Softened cream cheese blends higher and prevents clumps within the cheese layer. Chilly cream cheese can resist mixing, which could result in uneven pockets of dairy within the center layer. I at all times take it out at the least half-hour earlier than prep. For those who neglect, a fast 10-second microwave burst helps. Simply keep away from overheating it otherwise you’ll lose its consistency.
Scoop Out Extra Oil from the Beef. As soon as the meat cooks down, you’ll discover oil floating within the pot. Don’t skip eradicating it. Leaving an excessive amount of can result in a greasy dish that overwhelms the opposite layers. I exploit a ladle to skim it out proper earlier than including sausage.
Use Pasta Water as a Sauce Enhancer. The starch in reserved pasta water helps bond the sauce collectively. It additionally prevents the sauce from thinning an excessive amount of when simmered. I exploit precisely 3/4 cup from the water I boiled the noodles in. Keep away from plain water because it gained’t have the identical binding impact. This easy step provides physique to the sauce.
Don’t Skip the Resting Time. Letting the baked spaghetti sit for 10 minutes helps the cheese and sauce settle. For those who serve it straight out of the oven, the layers will slide and collapse. Giving it that brief pause additionally deepens the flavour after baking. I often time it good to heat the garlic bread throughout this wait. That manner, all the pieces’s prepared on the identical time.
Divide into Two Smaller Trays for Freezing. This recipe makes a big portion. You’ll be able to divide it between two medium trays and freeze one for later. Use aluminum trays and canopy tightly earlier than freezing. If you’re able to eat the frozen batch, let it thaw in a single day and bake at 350 F for about 40 minutes. This trick helps you get forward on meal prep with out additional work.

Million Greenback Spaghetti – Panlasang Pinoy

Finest Methods to Take pleasure in Million Greenback Spaghetti

Let’s be sincere – there’s no well mannered method to eat a hefty slice of Million Greenback Spaghetti. Folks within the South and Midwest of america typically serve Million Greenback Spaghetti throughout household reunions or potlucks. This dish feeds a lot and retains its form even after cooling down. When visitors arrive, it goes straight from oven to desk with no need a flowery dish.

At most church features or group occasions in these areas, this baked spaghetti sits subsequent to rolls, casseroles, and sheet muffins. Households with busy schedules freeze this upfront. They slice solely what they want for weeknight dinners. That behavior makes it one of many extra sensible baked pasta dishes round.

How This Million Greenback Spaghetti Stands Out

Not like what you’ll discover in most on-line recipes, my model of Million Greenback Spaghetti doesn’t rely closely on cottage cheese or overly salty sauces. Others additionally lean towards fusion, incorporating components that steer it removed from the consolation type most Individuals grew up with. My model sticks nearer to conventional layers. I regulate the meat ratio through the use of each floor beef and Italian sausage in equal elements. That retains the meat sauce richer with out being greasy.

Moreover, my soak up Million Greenback Spaghetti combines the softness of ricotta, the tang from bitter cream, and the physique from cream cheese. The layering provides you distinction, however it doesn’t overpower the sauce. I’ve additionally refined the butter method by spreading it between noodle layers as a substitute of simply melting it multi functional go. That straightforward transfer provides softness with out making the bottom soggy.

Whereas most variations of Million Greenback Spaghetti pile all the pieces in a single go, I intentionally construct it in phases. This technique lets the cheese combination stand out. In comparison with extra rushed variations or those who lean too far into fusion, this method retains the essence of the unique. It additionally provides extra management over every chew. Let’s stroll by the cooking steps so you possibly can put together it the identical manner at residence.

What to Have with Million Greenback Spaghetti

The Million Greenback Spaghetti often seems on American dinner tables, and the facet dishes typically stick with acquainted staples. Garlic bread stays the go-to. Its crispy edge and delicate butter taste match the baked cheese high and meat sauce. The distinction in textures helps break up every chew, so you possibly can strive my garlic bread recipe.

Many households serve this pasta alongside a easy inexperienced salad. They hold it mild with romaine (strive my rooster Caesar salad) or iceberg. Coleslaw is one other widespread alternative. crunch and coolness reset the palate when the dish will get too heavy.

Lastly, buttered corn or corn on the cob is a typical pairing. Youngsters particularly like that mixture, and it seems typically in home-style American dinners.

All these sides work as a result of they don’t battle for consideration. They simply give the Million Greenback Spaghetti more room to shine whereas nonetheless holding their floor on the plate.

For those who’re into the consolation baked type of Million Greenback Spaghetti, you’ll discover so much to like in these carefully associated pasta recipes. They share the identical hearty tone however have distinctive options that make each stand by itself.

Baked Spaghetti – This recipe retains the baking technique however leans lighter on the cheese. It highlights the candy, meaty Filipino-style sauce with hotdogs as a substitute of wealthy dairy layers. Good while you need oven-baked pasta with out the heavy cheese middle.
Pinoy Spaghetti – Attempt the Filipino model! It’s a go-to for events and merienda, this model makes use of banana ketchup, floor meat, and hotdogs. It skips the oven completely, specializing in sweetness and fast stovetop prep. Nice if you need one thing quick and nostalgic.
Panlasang Pinoy Spaghetti – That’s me! I mix the same old Pinoy taste with a deeper sauce profile. It’s nonetheless candy, however it comes with extra seasoning and a sophisticated end. Select this while you need stovetop spaghetti with a bit extra character.

From the tacky layers to the daring meat sauce, Million Greenback Spaghetti stands on the coronary heart of all the pieces comforting about baked pasta. Attempt one subsequent and discover your individual go-to model for weeknights, potlucks, or that random pasta craving.

Did you make this? For those who snap a photograph, please make certain tag us on Instagram at @panlasangpinoy or hashtag #panlasangpinoy so we are able to see your creations!