Description
Million dollar lasagna brings comfort and luxury to classic Italian cuisine. Layers of rich beef, creamy cheeses, and perfectly seasoned sauce promise a memorable meal that will delight you at first bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Ingredients:
- 1 pound (450g) ground beef
- 1 pound (450g) Italian sausage
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
Sauce Ingredients:
- 1 (24 ounces) jar marinara sauce
- 1 (14 ounces) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon sugar
Cheese Mixture Ingredients:
- 16 ounces (450g) ricotta cheese
- 8 ounces (225g) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup (100g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- 2 cups (200g) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Pasta and Additional Cheese:
- 12 lasagna noodles, cooked
- 2 cups (200g) additional shredded mozzarella cheese
Garnish:
- Extra parsley
Instructions
- Craft a robust meat sauce by browning ground beef, Italian sausage, and onions in a large skillet over medium heat, thoroughly draining excess fat.
- Incorporate minced garlic and cook briefly until aromatic, then blend in marinara sauce, crushed tomatoes, seasonings, and optional sugar.
- Simmer meat sauce on low heat for 10-15 minutes, stirring periodically to develop rich flavors.
- Create a creamy cheese mixture by blending ricotta, cream cheese, Parmesan, egg, and parsley until smooth and well-integrated.
- Fold in one cup of shredded mozzarella into the cheese mixture, ensuring even distribution.
- Preheat oven to 375°F and prepare a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
- Establish a foundational layer of meat sauce across the bottom of the baking dish.
- Arrange cooked lasagna noodles slightly overlapping, creating a stable base for subsequent layers.
- Spread a generous portion of cheese mixture over noodles, followed by a substantial layer of meat sauce.
- Sprinkle shredded mozzarella between each layer, building complexity and richness.
- Repeat layering process: noodles, cheese mixture, meat sauce, and mozzarella until ingredients are exhausted.
- Ensure the final layer features meat sauce topped with a generous coating of mozzarella.
- Shield lasagna with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes at 375°F.
- Remove foil and continue baking 15-20 minutes until cheese transforms into a golden, bubbling surface.
- Allow lasagna to rest 10-15 minutes, enabling layers to stabilize and flavors to meld.
- Optionally garnish with fresh parsley and serve warm, revealing delectable layers.
Notes
- Opt for lean ground beef to reduce the overall fat content while maintaining a rich, meaty flavor profile.
- Experiment with different cheese blends like adding fontina or gouda for a more complex and creamy texture.
- Consider using no-boil lasagna noodles to simplify the preparation process and save time in the kitchen.
- Freeze individual portions for easy meal prep, wrapping tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil to preserve freshness and prevent freezer burn.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 565 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 21 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 40 g
- Cholesterol: 140 mg