Description
This Delicious Crockpot Million Dollar Spaghetti is a creamy, cheesy, and flavorful one-pot meal perfect for busy days. Combining Italian sausage, rich marinara sauce, cream cheese, and mozzarella, this comforting dish cooks slowly in the crockpot to meld all the flavors beautifully. It’s an effortless dinner that delivers hearty satisfaction with a creamy twist on classic spaghetti.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Dairy
- 1 lb Italian sausage (Johnsonville mild preferred)
- 2.5 cups mozzarella cheese
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature (about 70°F)
- 1 cup sour cream (Daisy brand recommended)
Sauces and Seasonings
- 48 oz marinara sauce (Rao’s preferred for richer taste)
- 2.5 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- Parsley, for garnish
Other
- 1.75 cups water
- 1 lb spaghetti, broken in half to fit the crockpot evenly
Instructions
- Prepare the Crockpot: Begin by setting your crockpot to low heat to ensure gentle, even cooking throughout the process.
- Cook the Sausage: Brown the Italian sausage in a skillet over medium heat until fully cooked, breaking it up into crumbles. Drain excess fat before adding to the crockpot.
- Add Ingredients to Crockpot: Into the crockpot, add the cooked sausage, marinara sauce, water, cream cheese, sour cream, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder. Stir gently to combine all ingredients thoroughly.
- Add Spaghetti: Break the spaghetti noodles in half for an even fit and add them to the crockpot. Ensure they are mostly submerged in the sauce mixture for even cooking.
- Cook: Cover and cook on low for about 3 hours. Check occasionally to stir gently so pasta cooks evenly and doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot.
- Add Mozzarella Cheese: About 15 minutes before serving, sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over the top, cover again, and allow the cheese to melt completely, creating a rich cheesy layer.
- Garnish and Serve: Once cooked and cheese has melted, garnish with fresh parsley. Serve warm for a creamy, delicious spaghetti dinner that’s easy to make and sure to please.
Notes
- Use mild Italian sausage if preferred for less spice but extra flavor.
- Breaking spaghetti in half helps it cook evenly and fit better in the crockpot.
- Stirring midway through cooking helps prevent noodles from clumping or sticking.
- If cream cheese is not softened, it can cause lumps in the sauce, so let it come to room temperature before adding.
- Rao’s marinara sauce is suggested for its quality and depth of flavor; substitute with your favorite marinara as needed.
