Description
Million Dollar Lasagna is a rich and indulgent baked pasta dish layered with creamy cheeses, savory meat sauce, and tender noodles, perfect for feeding a crowd or preparing ahead for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
- 12 lasagna noodles
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce
- 1 (14 oz) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon sugar (optional)
- 16 oz ricotta cheese
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried parsley)
Instructions
- Cook the ground beef, Italian sausage, and diced onion in a large skillet over medium heat until browned. Drain excess grease, add garlic, and cook for 1 minute.
- Stir in marinara sauce, crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and sugar. Simmer on low heat for 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- In a large bowl, mix ricotta cheese, cream cheese, sour cream, egg, Parmesan cheese, and parsley until smooth. Stir in 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Spread a thin layer of meat sauce in the dish. Add 3 cooked lasagna noodles, then a layer of cheese mixture, meat sauce, and shredded mozzarella. Repeat layers, ending with meat sauce and mozzarella on top.
- Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 15–20 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden.
- Let rest for 10–15 minutes before serving. Garnish with parsley if desired.
Notes
- Use cottage cheese or mascarpone instead of ricotta if desired.
- No-boil noodles can be used with added sauce moisture.
- Make ahead and refrigerate or freeze before baking.
- Let lasagna rest before slicing for best results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 980mg
- Fat: 38g
- Saturated Fat: 19g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
