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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!

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)

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.

Find it online: https://thefamilycooking.com/million-dollar-lasagna/