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Million Dollar Lasagna

  • Author: rodrigo Stone
  • Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x

Description

Million Dollar Lasagna lives up to its name — it’s rich, cheesy, layered with hearty meat sauce, creamy ricotta mixture, and melty mozzarella, all stacked between tender pasta sheets. This ultra-comforting baked dish is perfect for family dinners, special occasions, or make-ahead meal prep. It’s indulgent, decadent, and absolutely worth every bite.

Ingredients

Scale

  • 1 lb ground beef

  • 1/2 lb Italian sausage (mild or hot)

  • 1 small onion, finely chopped

  • 3 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 (24 oz) jar marinara or pasta sauce

  • 2 tbsp tomato paste

  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning

  • Salt & pepper to taste

For the Cheese Layer:

  • 1 (15 oz) container ricotta cheese

  • 1 (8 oz) block cream cheese, softened

  • 1/4 cup sour cream

  • 1 large egg

  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

  • 2 tbsp chopped parsley (optional)

  • Salt & pepper to taste

For Assembly:

  • 9 lasagna noodles (regular or oven-ready)

  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

  • Extra Parmesan for topping

  • Fresh basil or parsley for garnish

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.

  2. Cook the meat sauce:
    In a large skillet, cook ground beef, sausage, and chopped onion over medium heat until browned. Add garlic, tomato paste, marinara, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10–15 minutes to thicken.

  3. Mix the cheese layer:
    In a bowl, mix ricotta, cream cheese, sour cream, egg, Parmesan, parsley, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Stir until smooth.

  4. Cook the noodles (if not using oven-ready): Boil according to package instructions, then drain and set aside.

  5. Assemble the lasagna:

  • Spread 1/2 cup meat sauce on the bottom of the baking dish.

  • Layer 3 noodles on top.

  • Spread 1/3 of the cheese mixture.

  • Add 1/3 of the meat sauce.

  • Sprinkle a handful of mozzarella.

  • Repeat layers twice more, ending with mozzarella and a sprinkle of Parmesan on top.

  1. Bake covered with foil for 25–30 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 15–20 minutes until bubbly and golden.

  2. Rest & serve:
    Let the lasagna rest for 10–15 minutes before slicing. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley.

Notes

You can make this lasagna ahead and refrigerate overnight before baking. It also freezes beautifully — just thaw in the fridge before reheating. Add spinach or mushrooms to the cheese layer for extra veggies. Perfect with garlic bread and a crisp green salad!

  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes

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Find it online: https://recipesreverie.com/dollar-lasagna/