The Best Million Dollar Lasagna Recipe Everyone Will Adore

Crafting a million dollar lasagna recipe promises culinary magic that transforms ordinary dinner into an extraordinary experience.

Layers of rich, velvety cheese and perfectly seasoned meat create a mouthwatering masterpiece.

Generations of home cooks have perfected this comfort food classic with love and passion.

Each carefully assembled layer brings depth and incredible flavor to your plate.

Pasta sheets nestle between savory fillings, promising a symphony of textures and tastes.

Warm, bubbling cheese and aromatic herbs will make everyone at the table lean in with anticipation.

Million Dollar Lasagna: Luxury Comfort Food

• Craft Comfort Like a Pro: This lasagna transforms ordinary cooking into a gourmet experience with layers of rich flavors and creamy textures that elevate home cooking.
• Crowd-Pleasing Champion: Perfect for family dinners, potlucks, and gatherings where everyone craves a hearty, satisfying meal that brings people together around the table.
• No-Stress Preparation: The recipe follows simple step-by-step instructions that make cooking feel like a breeze, even for those with minimal kitchen experience, ensuring delicious results every single time.
• Customize Your Culinary Adventure: Easily adaptable recipe allows for personal tweaks like swapping meats, adding vegetables, or adjusting cheese combinations to suit individual tastes and dietary preferences.

Ingredients for Million Dollar Lasagna

• Ground Beef: A flavorful base that provides rich, hearty texture to the lasagna.
• Italian Sausage: Adds depth and spicy notes to the meat sauce.

• Ricotta Cheese, Cream Cheese, Sour Cream: Create a luxuriously creamy and smooth cheese mixture.
• Mozzarella Cheese, Parmesan Cheese: Provide melty, stretchy, and sharp cheese flavors.
• Egg: Helps bind the cheese mixture together.

• Marinara Sauce: Offers a classic tomato base for the meat sauce.
• Diced Tomatoes: Add texture and fresh tomato flavor to the sauce.
• Onion, Garlic: Provide aromatic and savory foundation for the meat sauce.
• Italian Seasoning: Brings a blend of traditional Italian herb flavors.
• Salt, Pepper: Enhance and balance the overall taste of the dish.

• Lasagna Noodles: Serve as the structural layers that hold the lasagna together.

How to Bake Million Dollar Lasagna

Step 1: Craft Flavorful Meat Sauce

• Diced onion
• Minced garlic

Stir in marinara sauce, diced tomatoes, and Italian seasoning.

Season with salt and pepper. Let the sauce simmer on low heat for 10-15 minutes, allowing flavors to meld together beautifully.

Step 2: Whip Up Creamy Cheese Blend

• Ricotta cheese
• Cream cheese
• Sour cream
• Egg
• Parmesan cheese
• Mozzarella cheese (part of the mixture)

Step 3: Prepare Baking Station

Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Generously grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.

Step 4: Layer with Love

Start by spreading a thin meat sauce base in the baking dish. Create delicious layers:

First layer: Lasagna noodles

Spread 1/3 of creamy cheese mixture

Top with meat sauce

Repeat layering two more times

Final top layer: Remaining noodles, meat sauce, and sprinkle remaining mozzarella cheese

Step 5: Bake to Perfection

Cover the dish with aluminum foil.

Bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking for 20 more minutes until cheese turns golden and bubbly.

Step 6: Serve and Savor

Let lasagna rest for 10-15 minutes to set. Slice and serve with garlic bread or a crisp salad for a complete meal that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Pro Tips for Million Dollar Lasagna

• Choose a mix of ground beef and Italian sausage for deeper, richer flavor profiles that elevate the traditional lasagna taste.
• Use room temperature cream cheese to ensure smooth, creamy incorporation without lumps in the cheese mixture.
• Create even layers by spreading ingredients gently and consistently to guarantee balanced bites in every serving.
• Let lasagna rest after baking to allow sauce and cheese to set, preventing runny portions and making slicing easier.
• Sprinkle fresh chopped basil or parsley on top before serving to add a bright, fresh element to the hearty dish.

Variations on Million Dollar Lasagna

• Vegetarian Veggie Blast: Replace ground beef and sausage with a mix of roasted zucchini, eggplant, mushrooms, and bell peppers. Enhance the vegetable sauce with fresh herbs and extra Parmesan for depth.
• Spicy Mexican Fiesta: Swap Italian sausage for spicy chorizo. Add jalapeños to the meat sauce, use pepper jack cheese in the cheese mixture, and top with fresh cilantro before serving.
• Mediterranean Herb Haven: Incorporate ground lamb instead of beef. Mix feta cheese into the ricotta blend, add kalamata olives to the sauce, and sprinkle oregano and fresh mint for authentic Mediterranean flavors.

Pairing Suggestions for Million Dollar Lasagna

• Robust Red Wine Match: Select a bold Italian Chianti or Sangiovese to complement the rich meat sauce, cutting through the creamy cheese layers with its tangy acidity.
• Fresh Herbal Salad Companion: Craft a crisp arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette, adding bright, peppery notes that balance the lasagna's hearty flavors and cleanse the palate.
• Garlic Bread Sidekick: Prepare crusty, buttery garlic bread with herbs like parsley and basil, providing a crunchy texture that soaks up the delicious meat sauce and adds extra depth to the meal.

How to Store Million Dollar Lasagna

• Transfer cooled lasagna to an airtight container or wrap tightly with plastic wrap. Seal completely to prevent moisture loss. Refrigerate for up to 4 days.
• Wrap individual portions or entire lasagna in freezer-safe plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Store flat in freezer for maximum 3 months. Label with date for tracking.
• Cut desired portion and place on microwave-safe plate. Cover with damp paper towel to retain moisture. Heat on medium power for 2-3 minutes, checking temperature midway.

FAQs

• What makes the cheese mixture unique in this lasagna recipe?

The combination of ricotta, cream cheese, and sour cream creates an extra creamy and rich cheese layer that sets this lasagna apart from traditional recipes, giving it a luxurious and smooth texture.

• Can I use different types of meat in this recipe?

Absolutely! You can substitute the ground beef and Italian sausage with ground turkey, ground chicken, or even a plant-based meat alternative to suit your dietary preferences while maintaining the recipe’s core flavor profile.

• Is this lasagna suitable for make-ahead meal preparation?

Yes, you can assemble the lasagna in advance and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours before baking. Just add an extra 10-15 minutes to the baking time if cooking directly from the refrigerator to ensure it’s heated thoroughly.

Million Dollar Lasagna Recipe

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4.7 from 26 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Creamy layers of Million Dollar Lasagna promise a luxurious Italian-inspired feast that elevates comfort food to gourmet heights. Cheese, rich meat sauce, and perfectly cooked noodles combine for a hearty meal you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Meat Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 pound Italian sausage

Dairy Ingredients:

• 2 cups ricotta cheese
• 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Additional Ingredients:

• 1 medium onion
• 3 garlic cloves
• 1 jar (24 ounces) marinara sauce
• 1 can (14 ounces) diced tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 12 lasagna noodles

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Instructions

1. Craft a robust meat sauce by browning ground beef and Italian sausage in a large skillet over medium heat until thoroughly cooked and no pink remains.
2. Incorporate diced onions and minced garlic into the meat, sautéing until vegetables become translucent and fragrant.
3. Pour marinara sauce, diced tomatoes, and Italian seasoning into the skillet, seasoning with salt and pepper. Allow the mixture to simmer on low heat for 10-15 minutes, developing deep flavor profiles.
4. Create a luxurious cheese blend by whisking ricotta, cream cheese, sour cream, egg, Parmesan, and half the mozzarella in a mixing bowl until smooth and uniform.
5. Prepare the baking vessel by greasing a 9×13-inch dish and heating the oven to 375F (190C).
6. Establish the lasagna’s foundation by spreading a thin layer of meat sauce across the dish’s bottom.
7. Arrange the first layer of lasagna noodles, ensuring complete coverage of the sauce.
8. Generously spread one-third of the cheese mixture over the noodles, followed by a hearty portion of meat sauce.
9. Repeat the layering process two additional times, alternating noodles, cheese mixture, and meat sauce.
10. Crown the lasagna with a final noodle layer, remaining meat sauce, and sprinkle the reserved mozzarella on top.
11. Shield the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes.
12. Remove the foil and continue baking for 20 more minutes until the cheese melts and develops a golden, bubbly surface.
13. Let the lasagna rest for 10-15 minutes to set and enhance flavor melding before serving alongside garlic bread or a crisp salad.

Notes

• Opt for high-quality ground beef and Italian sausage to elevate the meat sauce’s rich flavor profile.
• Drain excess fat after browning meats to prevent a greasy lasagna texture.
• Experiment with fresh herbs like basil or oregano for an extra aromatic boost to the sauce.
• Mix different cheese varieties like provolone or fontina to create a more complex cheese layer.
• Use no-boil lasagna noodles to simplify preparation and reduce overall cooking time.
• Prepare the lasagna ahead of time and refrigerate overnight for deeper flavor melding.
• Swap ground meats with plant-based alternatives for a vegetarian version.
• Control sodium by using low-sodium marinara sauce and monitoring added salt.
• Freeze individual portions for convenient future meals by wrapping tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil.

• Prep Time: 45 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 565 kcal
• Sugar: 7 g
• Sodium: 780 mg
• Fat: 38 g
• Saturated Fat: 17 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 19 g
• Trans Fat: 0.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 28 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 38 g
• Cholesterol: 125 mg