Description
Million Dollar Italian Lasagna is a rich, indulgent dish featuring layers of seasoned meat sauce, creamy cheeses, and tender noodles—perfect for family dinners or special occasions.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb Italian sausage
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 cups marinara or pasta sauce
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 egg
- 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 12 lasagna noodles (cooked or oven-ready)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef and sausage. Add chopped onion and minced garlic; cook until softened.
- Stir in marinara sauce, tomato paste, sugar, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10-15 minutes.
- In a bowl, mix ricotta, cream cheese, sour cream, egg, and a pinch of Italian seasoning until smooth.
- Spread a layer of meat sauce in the bottom of the baking dish. Add a layer of noodles, then spread the cheese mixture, followed by mozzarella. Repeat layers, ending with meat sauce and a final topping of mozzarella and Parmesan.
- Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 10-15 minutes until golden and bubbly.
- Let lasagna rest for at least 15 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
- You can substitute beef with ground turkey or chicken.
- Add spinach to the cheese layer for extra veggies.
- Use oven-ready noodles to save time.
- Lasagna freezes well either before or after baking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 29g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
