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
Scale
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