Description
Creamy, cheesy Million Dollar Lasagna brings pure comfort to dinner tables with layers of rich flavor. Hearty meat sauce and smooth ricotta blend perfectly, creating a classic Italian-inspired dish you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Ingredients:
- 1 pound (1 lb) ground beef
- 0.5 pound (½ lb) Italian sausage
Cheese and Dairy Ingredients:
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 8 ounces (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
- 0.5 cup sour cream
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (for topping)
- 0.25 cup grated Parmesan cheese (for topping)
Seasonings and Additional Ingredients:
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 jar (24 ounces/24 oz) marinara sauce
- 1 teaspoon (1 tsp) Italian seasoning
- 0.5 teaspoon (½ tsp) red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons (2 tbsp) fresh parsley, chopped (plus extra for garnish)
- 12 lasagna noodles, cooked to al dente
Instructions
- Preheat the culinary workspace by setting the oven temperature to 375F (190C), ensuring an even heating environment. Prepare a 9×13-inch baking vessel with a light coating of nonstick spray to prevent adhesion.
- Craft the robust meat foundation by sautéing ground beef, Italian sausage, and diced onions in a spacious skillet over medium heat until thoroughly browned. Eliminate any excess fat accumulation.
- Enhance the meat mixture with minced garlic, marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and a judicious blend of salt and pepper. Allow the flavors to harmonize through a gentle 10-minute simmering process.
- Create a luxurious cheese blend by thoroughly combining ricotta, cream cheese, sour cream, egg, mozzarella, Parmesan, chopped parsley, and complementary seasonings until achieving a silky, uniform consistency.
- Initiate the layering process by spreading a delicate base of meat sauce across the baking dish bottom to prevent sticking.
- Arrange cooked lasagna noodles in a slightly overlapping pattern, creating a sturdy foundation for subsequent layers.
- Distribute one-third of the creamy cheese mixture evenly over the noodles, followed by a generous portion of meat sauce.
- Repeat the layering sequence twice more, ensuring each stratum is carefully constructed and evenly spread.
- Culminate the assembly with a final layer of meat sauce, creating a visually appealing and flavor-packed top.
- Generously sprinkle a combination of shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheese across the surface, promising a golden, crispy exterior.
- Protect the lasagna with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes, allowing the ingredients to meld and heat thoroughly.
- Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 20 minutes until the cheese transforms into a bubbling, golden masterpiece.
- Allow the lasagna to rest and settle for 10 minutes after removing from the oven, enabling easier slicing and flavor integration.
- Optional: Garnish with freshly chopped parsley for a vibrant final touch before serving.
Notes
- Experiment with ground turkey or plant-based meat alternatives for a leaner or vegetarian version of this hearty lasagna.
- Allow the lasagna to rest after baking, which helps the layers set and makes cutting and serving much easier.
- Use no-boil lasagna noodles to save time and reduce the overall preparation process without compromising texture.
- Consider making this dish ahead of time and refrigerating or freezing, as lasagna often tastes even better the next day after flavors have melded together.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 495
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 835 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg