Description
Million Dollar Lasagna is a rich and creamy baked Italian-American dish featuring layers of savory meat sauce, a luscious cheese mixture, and tender noodles. Combining ground beef, Italian sausage, and a blend of ricotta, cream cheese, and mozzarella, this lasagna offers comforting flavors baked to bubbly perfection, perfect for family dinners or special occasions.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Sauce
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb Italian sausage
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
- 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Creamy Cheese Mixture
- 2 cups ricotta cheese or cottage cheese
- 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
Other
- 12 lasagna noodles, cooked and drained (or no-boil noodles)
Instructions
- Prepare the Meat Sauce: In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef and Italian sausage until fully cooked, breaking up the meat with a spoon as it cooks.
- Sauté Onion and Garlic: Add diced onion and minced garlic to the meat; cook until the onion is softened and translucent, enhancing the flavor base.
- Add Sauce Ingredients: Stir in the marinara sauce, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper thoroughly to combine all flavors.
- Simmer Sauce: Reduce heat to low and let the meat sauce simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together and the sauce to thicken slightly.
- Make the Cheese Mixture: In a mixing bowl, combine the ricotta or cottage cheese, softened cream cheese, sour cream, egg, grated Parmesan, and 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese. Stir until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) and prepare a 9×13-inch baking dish by greasing it properly to prevent sticking.
- Assemble the Lasagna: Start by spreading a thin layer of meat sauce at the bottom of the baking dish. Layer three cooked lasagna noodles over the sauce, then spread one-third of the creamy cheese mixture over the noodles, followed by another layer of meat sauce. Repeat these layers two more times for a total of three layers.
- Final Layer: Finish by layering three lasagna noodles on top, covering with the remaining meat sauce, and sprinkling the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese evenly over the surface.
- Bake Covered: Cover the assembled dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes to heat through and meld the flavors.
- Bake Uncovered: Remove the foil and bake for an additional 20 minutes until the cheese on top is melted, bubbly, and golden.
- Rest Before Serving: Allow the lasagna to rest for 10 to 15 minutes after baking to set the layers and make serving easier.
Notes
- You can substitute cottage cheese for ricotta for a slightly different texture and lower fat option.
- No-boil noodles can be used to save time, but follow package instructions for best results.
- Letting lasagna rest before cutting helps retain layers and improves presentation.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months.
- For a richer flavor, try adding fresh basil or oregano to the meat sauce.
