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Delicious Million Dollar Lasagna layered with cheese and rich sauce.
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Million Dollar Lasagna

Creamy, hearty, and utterly comforting, Million Dollar Lasagna is the kind of dish that makes everyone ask for seconds. With a rich meat sauce, a velvety cheese layer, and golden melted mozzarella on top, this lasagna is dinner-table perfection.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time55 minutes
Total Time1 hour 10 minutes
Course: Main
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Comfort Food, Easy
Servings: 8 servings

Equipment

  • Skillet
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Baking Dish

Ingredients

Meat Sauce

  • 1 lb Ground beef, lean Raw, no preparation needed
  • 1/2 lb Italian sausage Raw, casings removed if necessary, crumbled
  • 1 medium Onion Diced small
  • 3 cloves Garlic Minced
  • 24 oz Marinara sauce Room temperature
  • 14 oz Diced tomatoes Undrained
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning Dried
  • 1 tsp Salt Divided
  • 1/8 tsp Pepper Divided

Cheese Layer

  • 2 cups Ricotta cheese Or cottage cheese, room temperature
  • 8 oz Cream cheese Softened to room temperature
  • 1/2 cup Sour cream Chilled or room temperature
  • 1 large Egg Beaten lightly
  • 1 tsp Garlic powder
  • 1 tsp Onion powder
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese Freshly grated if possible
  • 2 cups Shredded mozzarella cheese Divided (1 cup for filling, 1 cup for topping)

Lasagna Noodles

  • 1 package Lasagna noodles Cooked according to package directions and drained

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 375°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and set aside.
  • In a large skillet over medium heat, add ground beef, Italian sausage, and diced onion. Cook, breaking up the meat occasionally, until the meat is browned and the onion is soft, about 8–10 minutes.
  • Season the meat mixture with salt and pepper while it cooks. Drain excess grease from the skillet to keep the sauce from becoming oily.
  • Add minced garlic to the skillet and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in marinara sauce, diced tomatoes with juices, and Italian seasoning. Taste and adjust salt and pepper. Reduce heat and simmer for 10–15 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
  • While the sauce simmers, make the creamy cheese layer. In a mixing bowl combine ricotta, cream cheese, sour cream, beaten egg, grated Parmesan, and 1 cup of shredded mozzarella. Season with garlic powder, onion powder, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Mix until smooth and creamy.
  • Spread a thin layer of the meat sauce across the bottom of the prepared baking dish to prevent sticking.
  • Place a layer of cooked lasagna noodles over the sauce (trim noodles if needed to fit).
  • Spread one-third of the creamy cheese mixture evenly over the noodles.
  • Spoon a layer of meat sauce over the cheese layer, smoothing it out.
  • Repeat layering: noodles, cheese mixture, meat sauce. Finish with a final layer of noodles, top with the remaining meat sauce, and sprinkle the remaining shredded mozzarella evenly over the top.
  • Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes.
  • Remove the foil and bake for an additional 20 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
  • Remove from oven and let the lasagna rest for 15 minutes before slicing to allow layers to set. Serve warm.

Notes

Extra tips or suggestions: Use room-temperature cheeses for smooth mixing, and drain grease thoroughly to avoid a greasy lasagna. Let it rest before cutting for neat slices.