Description
Million dollar lasagna brings layers of creamy, cheesy comfort to your dinner table. Hearty Italian-inspired flavors meld together, creating a rich masterpiece you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Protein:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef
- 1 egg
Cheese Ingredients:
- 1 (15 ounces/425 grams) container ricotta cheese
- 1 (8 ounces/227 grams) package cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups (226 grams) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup (50 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) sour cream
Additional Ingredients:
- 12 lasagna noodles
- 1 (24 ounces/680 grams) jar marinara sauce
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Warm the oven to a moderate temperature and lightly grease a rectangular baking vessel to prepare for layering.
- Immerse pasta sheets in boiling water, cooking until tender but firm, then carefully remove and set aside to drain completely.
- Place ground meat and finely chopped aromatics into a heated skillet, browning thoroughly while breaking down protein into small crumbles; introduce minced garlic for an additional minute of infusion.
- Incorporate tomato-based sauce into the meat mixture, allowing flavors to meld and simmer gently.
- Create a luxurious dairy blend by whisking together soft cheese varieties, cultured cream, egg, aged Italian cheese, and herbaceous seasonings until smooth and well-incorporated.
- Establish a foundation of meat sauce in the baking dish, then methodically construct alternating layers: pasta sheets, creamy cheese mixture, and shredded mozzarella, repeating the process and concluding with a generous cheese topping.
- Shield the assembled dish with aluminum foil, then bake until heated through; remove protective covering to allow the surface to develop a golden, crispy texture.
- Allow the lasagna to rest and settle, enabling the layers to set and intensify in flavor before presenting at the table.
Notes
- Make ahead by preparing lasagna layers a day in advance and refrigerating, allowing flavors to meld beautifully.
- Substitute ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for healthier or vegetarian alternatives.
- Use no-boil lasagna noodles to save time and reduce kitchen cleanup, ensuring same delicious texture.
- Enhance flavor by adding fresh herbs like basil or oregano to the cheese mixture for extra depth and aromatic richness.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg