Top-Notch Million Dollar Lasagna Recipe: A Rich Family Favorite
Crafting this million dollar lasagna creates a culinary masterpiece that will make dinner guests swoon with delight.
Layers of rich, creamy cheese blend perfectly with savory meat sauce.
Homemade recipes often seem complicated, but this approach simplifies everything.
Generations of home cooks have perfected the art of comfort food.
Authentic Italian techniques merge with modern cooking shortcuts to produce something spectacular.
Each bite promises a symphony of flavors that dance across your palate.
You’ll want to savor every single delectable forkful of this remarkable dish.
Essential Ingredients for an Unforgettable Million Dollar Lasagna
Meat and Protein:Cheese and Dairy:Sauce and Seasonings:Pasta:Step-by-Step Lasagna Baking Instructions for Perfect Results
Step 1: Prepare the Oven and Noodles
Warm up the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Boil the lasagna noodles following the package directions, then drain and set them aside ready for layering.
Step 2: Brown the Meat Mixture
Grab a large skillet and cook the ground beef, sausage, chopped onions, and minced garlic over medium heat. Cook until the meat turns brown and loses its pink color.
Drain away any extra grease from the pan.
Step 3: Create the Meat Sauce
Pour marinara sauce into the skillet with the cooked meat.
Let the sauce simmer and blend with the meat for about 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.
Step 4: Mix the Cheese Filling
In a mixing bowl, combine:Blend these ingredients until you get a smooth, creamy mixture.
Step 5: Build the Lasagna Layers
Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Start layering your lasagna:Repeat these layers, ending with meat sauce on top.
Step 6: Add the Cheese Topping
Sprinkle generously over the top:Step 7: Bake to Perfection
Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for another 15 minutes until the top turns golden and the edges become bubbly.
Step 8: Rest and Serve
Allow the lasagna to rest for 10 minutes. This helps the layers set and makes cutting easier.
Slice and serve hot.
Expert Advice to Take Your Lasagna from Good to Legendary
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FAQs
Ground beef and Italian sausage create the perfect flavor combination, offering rich taste and texture with a balanced blend of meats.
Yes, you can assemble the lasagna up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerate. Just add an extra 10-15 minutes to baking time when cooking from cold.
The cream cheese adds extra creaminess and richness that makes this lasagna extra special, creating a smoother, more luxurious cheese layer compared to traditional recipes.
Drain excess grease from the meat after browning and let the meat sauce simmer to reduce moisture, which helps create a firmer, less soggy lasagna.
Million Dollar Lasagna: Layers of Rich, Cheesy Goodness
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Easy Million Dollar Lasagna Recipe
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 1x
Description
Million dollar lasagna merges classic Italian flavors with rich, creamy layers of comfort. Cheese, ground beef, and homemade sauce create a memorable meal that delights family gatherings with authentic warmth.
Ingredients
Proteins:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 0.5 pound Italian sausage
Dairy and Cheese:
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 (15 ounces/425 grams) container ricotta cheese
- 1 (8 ounces/226 grams) package cream cheese, softened
- 1 egg
Pasta, Sauce, and Seasonings:
- 12 lasagna noodles
- 1 (24 ounces/680 grams) jar marinara sauce
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Heat oven to 375F (190C) and prepare lasagna noodles according to package directions, then drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, brown ground beef, sausage, onion, and garlic over medium heat, thoroughly draining any excess fat.
- Pour marinara sauce into meat mixture and allow to simmer for 5 minutes, developing rich flavor profiles.
- Create cheese blend by combining ricotta, cream cheese, egg, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper until achieving a smooth, consistent texture.
- Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and construct initial layer using meat sauce, followed by a noodle sheet and half of the prepared cheese mixture.
- Repeat layering process, ensuring final top layer consists of meat sauce for maximum coverage.
- Generously distribute mozzarella and Parmesan cheese across the entire surface of the lasagna.
- Cover dish with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes at 375F.
- Remove foil and continue baking for an additional 15 minutes until cheese turns golden and edges become crispy and bubbly.
- Allow lasagna to rest for 10 minutes before cutting to help layers set and improve serving consistency.
Notes
- Enhance the meat sauce’s depth by adding a splash of red wine during simmering for richer flavor complexity.
- Substitute ground beef and sausage with plant-based alternatives like lentils or mushrooms for a vegetarian version that maintains robust taste.
- Prevent soggy lasagna by slightly undercooking noodles and allowing them to finish cooking in the oven, ensuring perfect al dente texture.
- Prep ingredients ahead of time and assemble lasagna the night before, refrigerating overnight to allow flavors to meld and develop more intense taste profiles.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 597 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 845 mg
- Fat: 42 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 21 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg
Jack Monroe
Founder & Recipe Innovator
Expertise
Pacific Northwest cuisine, Single-serving recipe development, Sustainable sourcing and cooking, Modern comfort food
Education
Brightwater
Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts
Focus: Sustainable cooking, seasonal ingredients, and food systems education
Jack grew up with a fishing rod in one hand and a cast-iron skillet in the other. After graduating from Brightwater: A Center for the Study of Food, he set out to prove that cooking for one could still taste like a feast.
Jack believes that food should feel real: fresh, fearless, and a little wild, just like the rivers he grew up around. For Jack, every single dish is a small adventure, and the best ones are the ones you can cook with heart, not hassle.