Million Dollar Lasagna

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Rich and Creamy: The combination of ricotta, cream cheese, and Parmesan creates a luscious, velvety texture that elevates traditional lasagna.
• Hearty and Satisfying: Packed with flavorful meat sauce and layers of cheese, this dish is both filling and comforting.
• Make-Ahead Friendly: Perfect for meal prep, you can assemble it in advance and bake when ready, making it ideal for busy schedules.
• Crowd-Pleaser: This lasagna serves a large group, making it great for gatherings and potlucks.
• Versatile: Easily customizable with your preferred meats, cheeses, or even a vegetarian version with sautéed vegetables.

Ingredients

(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)

For the Meat Sauce:

• Ground beef
• Italian sausage
• Onion, diced
• Garlic cloves, minced
• Marinara sauce
• Crushed tomatoes
• Italian seasoning
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Sugar (optional, to balance acidity)

For the Cheese Mixture:

• Ricotta cheese
• Cream cheese, softened
• Grated Parmesan cheese
• Large egg
• Shredded mozzarella cheese
• Fresh parsley, chopped (or dried parsley)

For Assembly:

• Lasagna noodles, cooked according to package instructions
• Additional shredded mozzarella cheese
• Fresh parsley, for garnish (optional)

Directions

1. Prepare the Meat Sauce:
   • In a large skillet or pot, cook the ground beef, Italian sausage, and diced onion over medium heat until browned and fully cooked. Drain excess grease.
   • Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
   • Add the marinara sauce, crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and sugar (if using). Simmer on low heat for 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Make the Cheese Mixture:
   • In a large bowl, mix the ricotta cheese, cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg, and parsley until smooth. Stir in half of the shredded mozzarella cheese.
3. Preheat the Oven:
   • Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
4. Assemble the Lasagna:
   • Spread a thin layer of the meat sauce on the bottom of the baking dish.
   • Place 3 cooked lasagna noodles over the sauce, slightly overlapping them.
   • Spread a generous layer of the cheese mixture over the noodles, followed by a layer of meat sauce.
   • Sprinkle with a handful of shredded mozzarella cheese.
   • Repeat the layers (noodles, cheese mixture, meat sauce, shredded mozzarella) until all ingredients are used, finishing with a layer of meat sauce and shredded mozzarella on top.
5. Bake:
   • Cover the lasagna with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes.
   • Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15–20 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
6. Rest and Serve:
   • Let the lasagna rest for 10–15 minutes before slicing to allow the layers to set.
   • Garnish with fresh parsley if desired and serve warm.

Servings and Timing

• Servings: This recipe serves 8–10 people.
• Prep Time: Approximately 30 minutes.
• Cook Time: About 60 minutes.
• Total Time: Approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Variations

• Vegetarian: Replace the meat with sautéed vegetables like zucchini, mushrooms, and spinach for a hearty vegetarian version.
• Spicy: Add red pepper flakes to the meat sauce for a spicy kick.
• Different Cheeses: Experiment with cheeses like provolone or fontina to add different flavor profiles.
• Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free lasagna noodles to accommodate dietary restrictions.

Storage/Reheating

• Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Reheating: Reheat individual portions in the microwave until warmed through, or cover the baking dish with foil and warm in a 350°F (175°C) oven until heated.
• Freezing: Assemble the lasagna and freeze it unbaked for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and bake as directed, adding extra time if needed.

FAQs

What makes this lasagna “Million Dollar”?

The “Million Dollar” aspect comes from the rich combination of cheeses—ricotta, cream cheese, Parmesan, and mozzarella—that create an indulgent

Million Dollar Lasagna

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This Million Dollar Lasagna is the ultimate comfort food! Made with a rich and creamy cheese blend of ricotta, cream cheese, and Parmesan, layered with a hearty meat sauce and tender lasagna noodles, this dish is perfect for family dinners, meal prep, and special gatherings. It’s a crowd-pleasing, make-ahead meal that will have everyone asking for seconds!

• Author: Laura
• Prep Time: 30min
• Cook Time: 60min
• Total Time: 1h30min
• Yield: 8-10servings
• Category: Dinner, Casserole, Comfort Food
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Italian-American
• Diet: Gluten Free

Ingredients

For the Meat Sauce:

• 1 lb ground beef
• ½ lb Italian sausage
• 1 small onion, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
• 1 can (14 oz) crushed tomatoes
• 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp sugar (optional)

For the Cheese Mixture:

• 1 container (15 oz) ricotta cheese
• 4 oz cream cheese, softened
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 large egg
• 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (or 1 tbsp dried parsley)

For Assembly:

• 12 lasagna noodles, cooked according to package instructions
• 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese (for topping)
• Fresh parsley, for garnish (optional)

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Instructions

. Prepare the Meat Sauce:

1. In a large skillet or pot, cook the ground beef, Italian sausage, and diced onion over medium heat until browned. Drain excess grease.
2. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
3. Add marinara sauce, crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and sugar (if using). Simmer on low heat for 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

2. Make the Cheese Mixture:

1. In a large bowl, mix the ricotta cheese, cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg, and parsley until smooth.
2. Stir in ¾ cup shredded mozzarella cheese (reserving the rest for later).

3. Preheat the Oven:

• Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.

4. Assemble the Lasagna:

1. Spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom of the dish.
2. Place 3 cooked lasagna noodles over the sauce, slightly overlapping.
3. Spread a generous layer of the cheese mixture over the noodles, followed by meat sauce and a handful of shredded mozzarella.
4. Repeat the layers (noodles, cheese mixture, meat sauce, mozzarella) until all ingredients are used, finishing with meat sauce and shredded mozzarella on top.

5. Bake:

1. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes.
2. Remove foil and bake for another 15–20 minutes, until the cheese is golden and bubbly.

6. Rest & Serve:

• Let the lasagna rest for 10–15 minutes before slicing to allow the layers to set.
• Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.

Notes

• Vegetarian Option: Swap meat for sautéed zucchini, mushrooms, and spinach.
• Spicy Version: Add ½ tsp red pepper flakes to the meat sauce.
• Cheese Variations: Try provolone or fontina for a unique twist.
• Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free lasagna noodles.