How Million Dollar Recipes Got Their Luxurious Name

Recipe names often do more than just explain the main ingredients. Recipes with descriptions like “marry me,” “better than sex,” or “crack” are catchy, hint at the indulgent nature of the finished product, and, most importantly, are memorable. “Million dollar” recipes are perhaps the oldest, with million dollar cocktail having its roots between the late 1800s and early 1900s, and Neiman’s million dollar dip Marcus who would have originated in the 1950s.

The origins of some of these other descriptions are more obvious, but the full history of the million-dollar recipes is unclear (although there are some commonalities among the recipes). Million dollar cake recipes, for example, usually feature pineapple. Many recent recipes, including Million Dollar Spaghetti, include cream cheese.

The nickname “million dollar” is not used because of the cost of the ingredients, but because the dish is rich and indulgent – ​​thanks to ingredients like cream cheese – or because it tastes like a million of dollars. The common theme of these dishes is that they offer culinary value and enjoyment.

Read more: 30 Types of Cakes, Explained

Popular Million Dollar Dishes

Million Dollar Spaghetti is one of the newer viral recipes with an expensive-sounding name. The simplicity of the TikTok version likely contributes to its popularity, with the most popular videos calling for an easy mix of ground beef, plus a pot of spaghetti sauce and Alfredo sauce. The mixture is poured into a baking dish, topped with grated cheese and baked until the cheese is bubbling. Even recipes that call for homemade Alfredo sauce are simple and straightforward. Although different recipes include add-ins, like onions and peppers, the dish can be made without or with whatever you have on hand to make it your own.

TikTok is full of variations of this dish using other shapes of pasta, plus additional recipes including million-dollar stews and dips. Dips are typically made with cream cheese, bacon bits, and shredded cheese, along with other ingredients unique to each specific recipe. Casseroles tend to contain combinations of meat (often chicken or turkey), Ritz crackers, cottage cheese, and, of course, softened cream cheese.

A list of indulgent recipes wouldn’t be complete without dessert, and there’s no shortage of them. Our millionaire’s shortbread owes its name to its richness, which it draws from three delicious layers of shortbread, caramel and chocolate. Million Dollar Pie – a bit like Million Dollar Cake – contains pineapple, sweetened condensed milk, Cool Whip and, you guessed it, cream cheese.

Read the original article on the tasting table.