Description
Million Dollar Lasagna is a rich, cheesy, and hearty Italian-American main course featuring layers of seasoned ground beef and Italian sausage, creamy ricotta and cream cheese blend, tender lasagna noodles, and a luscious marinara sauce, all baked to perfection with melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses on top. This comforting dish is perfect for family dinners and can be prepared ahead of time or frozen for later convenience.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Sauce
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound Italian sausage (casings removed)
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (24-ounce) jar marinara or pasta sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
Cheese Mixture
- 1 (15-ounce) container ricotta cheese
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 large egg
Other Ingredients
- 9 cooked lasagna noodles (or oven-ready noodles)
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Baking Dish: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Cook Meat and Aromatics: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef, Italian sausage, and diced onion together until browned and fully cooked, about 7 to 8 minutes. Stir occasionally to break up meat.
- Add Garlic and Sauce: Add minced garlic to the skillet and cook for another minute until fragrant. Drain any excess fat from the pan, then stir in the marinara sauce. Allow the mixture to simmer gently for 5 minutes to blend the flavors, then remove from heat.
- Prepare Cheese Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, softened cream cheese, sour cream, egg, salt, and pepper. Mix until smooth and creamy.
- Assemble Lasagna – First Layer: Spread a thin layer of the meat sauce on the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Lay three lasagna noodles over the sauce. Spread one-third of the cheese mixture evenly over the noodles, then top with one-third of the meat sauce. Sprinkle with a portion of the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.
- Assemble Lasagna – Repeat Layers: Repeat layering two more times: noodles, cheese mixture, meat sauce, and shredded cheeses, finishing with a top layer of mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
- Bake Covered: Cover the assembled lasagna tightly with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes.
- Bake Uncovered: Remove the foil and continue to bake uncovered for an additional 15 to 20 minutes or until the top is bubbly and golden brown.
- Rest and Serve: Allow the lasagna to rest for 10 to 15 minutes after baking; this helps it set and makes slicing easier. Optionally, garnish with chopped fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
- Lasagna can be assembled a day ahead and refrigerated before baking for convenience.
- For a lighter version, substitute cottage cheese for ricotta and use lean ground turkey instead of beef and sausage.
- This lasagna freezes well, whether baked or unbaked, making it a great meal prep option.
