Layered Cheese Lasagna

This decadent, mouthwatering Million Dollar Lasagna gets its name from its velvety cheese blends, flavorful meat sauce, and soft pasta sheets that come together for an amazing family meal. The extra-rich additions to classic lasagna elements turn this into something way beyond your typical pasta bake.

I came up with this dish when I needed something extra-special for my daughter's graduation dinner. Everyone went crazy for that super creamy cheese mix, and now the family won't let any holiday pass without it on the table.

Ingredients

• Ground beef: Builds a substantial base for the sauce while adding plenty of flavor and protein
• Italian sausage: Brings extra taste dimension with its seasoning blend
• Ricotta cheese: Gives that airy, soft texture to the cheese layers
• Cream cheese: The game-changing ingredient that earns this dish its "million dollar" status with incredible richness
• Sour cream: Delivers a zingy kick that cuts through the richness
• Marinara sauce: Speeds up cooking while keeping flavor consistent throughout
• Mozzarella cheese: Makes that gorgeous golden top and stretchy, pull-apart goodness
• Lasagna noodles: Tie everything into one beautiful layered package

Step-by-Step Instructions

Brown the Meat:

Put ground beef and Italian sausage in a big skillet over medium heat, cooking until you don't see any pink. Break everything into tiny bits as you go for better distribution in your lasagna.

Develop the Sauce:

Throw diced onions in with your cooked meat and stir until they turn clear, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 30 seconds more until you can smell it. Mix in your marinara sauce, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Let it bubble gently for 10-15 minutes so all the flavors can get friendly.

Prepare the Cheese Mixture:

In a big bowl, mix together your ricotta, softened cream cheese, sour cream, one egg, Parmesan, and half the mozzarella. Stir until it's smooth as silk. This fancy cheese blend is what makes people go wild for this lasagna.

Layer the Lasagna:

Spread a thin coat of meat sauce on the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish. Put down a layer of noodles, then slather on plenty of the cheese mixture, and more meat sauce. Keep going with these layers until you've used everything up, finishing with meat sauce and sprinkling the rest of your mozzarella on top.

Bake to Perfection:

Cover your dish with foil and stick it in a 375°F oven for 25 minutes. Take the foil off and bake another 20 minutes until the top turns golden and the edges start bubbling. Let it sit for at least 10 minutes before cutting so it won't fall apart.

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Adding cream cheese really turns this from basic lasagna into something people can't stop talking about. I learned this trick from my Italian neighbor who claimed it was the only way to make truly memorable lasagna. The first time I brought this to a potluck, my dish came back empty with three people begging me for the recipe.

Make-Ahead and Storage

This lasagna tastes even better when you make it a day early. Just build the whole thing, wrap it tight with foil and stick it in the fridge overnight. When you're ready to cook, pull it out about 30 minutes before baking so it can warm up a bit. Any leftovers will stay good in the fridge for up to 4 days if you keep them in a sealed container.

Freezing Instructions

You can freeze this Million Dollar Lasagna with no problems, cooked or uncooked. For raw lasagna, put it together in a freezer-safe dish, wrap it well with plastic and foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in your fridge overnight before cooking. If you've already baked it, let it cool down completely, cut it into portions, wrap them separately and freeze. You can warm up single portions in the microwave or oven until they're hot all the way through.

Customization Options

Feel free to switch things up based on what you like. You can swap ground turkey if you want something lighter, or toss in veggies like spinach, mushrooms or zucchini for extra nutrition. Don't eat meat? Replace it with a chunky mix of cooked veggies instead. Gluten-free pasta works great for folks who need it, just follow the cooking time on the package since it might be different.

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Million Dollar Lasagna isn't just dinner—it's the perfect way to make any meal with family feel like a special occasion, with every single bite worth savoring.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Can I switch out ricotta for cottage cheese?

Sure thing! Use cottage cheese in place of ricotta. Just give it a good blend to get that creamy texture.

→ Can I put this together the day before?

Of course! Assemble it ahead, wrap tightly, and refrigerate. Pop it in the oven when you're ready to eat.

→ How do I keep lasagna from turning watery?

Be sure to drain canned tomatoes and cook the meat sauce until it thickens. Let the lasagna sit after baking for everything to settle.

→ Is it okay to use no-boil noodles?

Absolutely! Just add more sauce so they cook well while baking.

→ What's the easiest way to reheat it?

To warm it up, cover with foil and heat in a 350°F oven. For single servings, the microwave works fine too.