Description
Million Dollar Lasagna is the ultimate comfort food — rich, creamy, cheesy, and packed with layers of flavor. It gets its name from the decadent layers of ground beef, marinara, a luxurious ricotta-cream cheese mixture, and gooey melted mozzarella. Whether you’re feeding a crowd or prepping for the week, this dish is always a showstopper.
Ingredients
For the Meat Sauce:
-
1 lb ground beef (or half beef, half Italian sausage)
-
1 small onion, diced
-
3 cloves garlic, minced
-
1 (24 oz) jar marinara or pasta sauce
-
1/2 tsp salt
-
1/4 tsp black pepper
-
1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
For the Creamy Cheese Layer:
-
1 (8 oz) block cream cheese, softened
-
1 cup ricotta cheese
-
1/2 cup sour cream
-
1 egg
-
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
-
1/4 tsp salt
-
1/4 tsp garlic powder
Other Ingredients:
-
9 lasagna noodles (regular or oven-ready)
-
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
-
1/4 cup grated Parmesan (for topping)
-
Fresh basil or parsley, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
-
Cook the meat sauce:
In a skillet, cook ground beef and onion over medium heat until browned. Add garlic and cook 1 more minute. Drain excess fat. Stir in marinara, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Simmer for 10 minutes. -
Make the creamy cheese layer:
In a bowl, mix cream cheese, ricotta, sour cream, egg, Parmesan, salt, and garlic powder until smooth and creamy. -
Cook the noodles (if not using oven-ready) according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
-
Assemble the lasagna:
In a 9×13 baking dish:-
Spread 1/3 of the meat sauce on the bottom.
-
Layer 3 noodles over the sauce.
-
Spread half of the creamy cheese mixture on top.
-
Sprinkle 1/3 of the mozzarella.
-
Repeat with meat sauce, noodles, remaining cheese mixture, and more mozzarella.
-
Top with final layer of noodles, remaining meat sauce, mozzarella, and Parmesan.
-
-
Bake:
Cover with foil and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 20–25 minutes, or until golden and bubbly. -
Rest and Serve:
Let lasagna rest for 10–15 minutes before slicing. Garnish with basil or parsley if desired.
Notes
This lasagna freezes beautifully either before or after baking. For extra flavor, add a layer of sautéed spinach or mushrooms. You can also substitute cottage cheese for ricotta or lighten it up with ground turkey. Serve with garlic bread and a simple salad for a complete meal.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes