Description
This Million Dollar Lasagna is rich, creamy, and packed with layers of cheesy goodness! It combines a classic meaty marinara sauce with a deliciously creamy ricotta and cream cheese filling. Baked to perfection with gooey melted mozzarella on top, this dish is a total crowd-pleaser—perfect for family dinners, special occasions, or meal prep!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Meat Sauce:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 lb Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce
- 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
For the Cheese Mixture:
- 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (or 1 tsp dried)
For Assembly:
- 12 lasagna noodles, cooked and drained
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional, for extra richness)
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
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Preheat Oven & Prep Pan:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
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Make the Meat Sauce:
- In a large skillet, cook the ground beef, sausage, and chopped onion over medium heat until browned. Drain excess grease.
- Stir in the minced garlic, marinara sauce, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
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Make the Cheese Mixture:
- In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese, ricotta, cottage cheese, sour cream, egg, Parmesan cheese, and parsley until well combined.
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Assemble the Lasagna:
- Spread a small amount of meat sauce on the bottom of the baking dish.
- Layer 4 lasagna noodles on top.
- Spread half of the cheese mixture over the noodles.
- Add ⅓ of the meat sauce on top.
- Repeat this layering process once more (noodles, cheese mixture, meat sauce).
- Add a final layer of noodles and the remaining meat sauce.
- Sprinkle mozzarella, cheddar (if using), and Parmesan cheese on top.
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Bake the Lasagna:
- Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake for another 15 minutes until the cheese is golden and bubbly.
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Rest & Serve:
- Let the lasagna rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing. Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- Make it ahead: Assemble the lasagna and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking.
- Freezer-friendly: Wrap tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. Bake from frozen at 350°F for 1 hour, covered, then uncover and bake for 15 more minutes.
- Customize it: Add spinach, mushrooms, or bell peppers to the sauce for extra flavor.