Million Dollar Lasagna
A delicious and comforting lasagna with layers of rich meat sauce, creamy cheese, and satisfying noodles. Perfect for family dinners and gatherings.
Ingredients
Meat Sauce
- 1 lb ground beef can be substituted with ground turkey or chicken
- ½ lb Italian sausage
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
- 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp salt
- ⅛ tsp pepper for a spicier kick, add crushed red pepper flakes
Cheese Mixture
- 2 cups ricotta cheese or cottage cheese
- 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided 1 cup for layering and 1 cup for topping
Lasagna Assembly
- 1 package Lasagna noodles, cooked and drained you can use no-cook noodles if preferred
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish and set it aside.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef, Italian sausage, and diced onion until the meat is browned and fully cooked. Season with salt and pepper.
- Drain excess grease, then stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Add marinara sauce, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10-15 minutes.
Cheese Mixture
- In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese, cream cheese, sour cream, egg, Parmesan cheese, and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese. Season with salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. Mix until smooth.
Assembly
- Spread a thin layer of meat sauce at the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Place a layer of lasagna noodles on top, followed by a portion of the creamy cheese mixture and a layer of meat sauce. Repeat the layering process, finishing with meat sauce on top.
- Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese evenly over the top layer.
Baking
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake for an additional 20 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
- Let the lasagna rest for 15 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley or extra grated Parmesan cheese. It goes well with a simple side salad and garlic bread. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.