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Million Dollar Lasagna

A mouthwatering lasagna with savory meat sauce and a creamy cheese blend, perfect for family dinners.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dinner, Italian, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 400
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Meat Sauce
  • 1 lb ground beef Can use lean ground beef.
  • 1 lb Italian sausage Can substitute with turkey sausage for a lighter option.
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 24 oz jar marinara sauce
  • 14 oz can diced tomatoes
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • Salt and pepper to taste
For the Creamy Cheese Layer
  • 2 cups ricotta cheese or cottage cheese Cottage cheese can be a lighter option.
  • 8 oz package cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided Reserve 1 cup for topping.
For the Pasta Layer
  • 12 pieces lasagna noodles, cooked and drained Or use no-boil noodles.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Brown the ground beef and sausage in a pan over medium heat. Drain any excess fat.
  2. Add the diced onions and minced garlic. Cook until the onions are translucent.
  3. Pour in the marinara sauce, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and season with salt and pepper. Let it simmer for 10-15 minutes.
Cheese Mixture
  1. In another bowl, mix ricotta (or cottage cheese), cream cheese, sour cream, egg, Parmesan, and 1 cup mozzarella until smooth.
Assembly and Cooking
  1. Layer the dish: Spread some meat sauce on the bottom, add noodles, and then the cheese mixture. Repeat the layers and top with remaining mozzarella.
  2. Cover with foil and bake at 375°F for 25 minutes.
  3. Remove the foil and bake for another 20 minutes until golden and bubbly.
  4. Let it rest for 10-15 minutes before serving.

Notes

Use fresh herbs in the meat sauce for an extra flavor boost. Swap ricotta for cottage cheese for a lighter option. Add veggies like spinach or mushrooms between layers for a nutrient boost.