Description
This Million Dollar Lasagna is a rich and creamy Italian-American classic that layers savory meat sauce, a luscious cheese mixture, and melted mozzarella to create a crowd-pleasing comfort food. Perfect for family dinners or special occasions, this recipe combines ground beef with a flavorful marinara and Italian seasonings, balanced by a creamy blend of cream cheese, ricotta, sour cream, and Parmesan. Baked until golden and bubbly, this lasagna delivers hearty, cheesy satisfaction in every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Sauce
- 1 lb ground beef (or Italian sausage)
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
Cheese Mixture
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup sour cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
Other Ingredients
- 12 lasagna noodles, cooked and drained
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese (for topping)
Instructions
- Make the Meat Sauce: In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef and diced onion until the meat is no longer pink and the onion is translucent. Drain any excess grease. Stir in minced garlic, marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Reduce heat and let the sauce simmer gently for 10 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Prepare Cheese Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, ricotta cheese, sour cream, grated Parmesan cheese, egg, garlic powder, and salt. Mix thoroughly until the mixture is smooth and well blended.
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) to warm up while you begin assembling the lasagna.
- Start Assembly: Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Spread 1 cup of the meat sauce evenly on the bottom of the dish to prevent sticking and provide flavor at the base.
- First Layer: Lay 3 cooked lasagna noodles over the sauce. Spread one-third of the cheese mixture over the noodles evenly. Spoon a portion of the meat sauce on top of the cheese layer, followed by one-third of the shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Repeat Layers: Repeat the layering process two more times with noodles, cheese mixture, meat sauce, and mozzarella, ending with a final layer of mozzarella cheese on top. Sprinkle the half cup of grated Parmesan cheese evenly over the mozzarella.
- Bake the Lasagna: Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Then remove the foil and bake uncovered for an additional 15 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and bubbly.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the lasagna from the oven and let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing. This resting period helps the layers set and makes serving easier.
Notes
- You can substitute ground beef with Italian sausage for a more robust flavor.
- Make sure to cook and drain the lasagna noodles well to prevent excess water in the dish.
- Letting the lasagna rest after baking ensures it cuts neatly without falling apart.
- Use fresh garlic and good-quality marinara sauce for the best flavor.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months.
