Million Dollar Lasagna

 

This incredibly rich and creamy lasagna is worth its weight in gold! The secret is in the luxurious, triple-cheese filling.

Ingredients

For the Meat Sauce:

• 1 lb ground beef

• 1 lb Italian sausage (mild or hot), casings removed

• 1 small onion, finely diced

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce

• 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce

• 1 tsp Italian seasoning

• ½ tsp salt

• ½ tsp black pepper

• 1 tbsp sugar (optional, to balance acidity)

For the Cheese Mixture:

• 1 (16 oz) container cottage cheese or ricotta

• 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened

• 1 cup sour cream

• 1 large egg

• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

• 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (optional)

For Assembly:

• 12 lasagna noodles, cooked al dente and drained

• 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions:

1. Prep Work:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the lasagna noodles according to package directions until al dente. Drain and lay them in a single layer on a sheet of parchment paper to prevent sticking.

2. Make the Meat Sauce:
In a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat, brown the ground beef and Italian sausage with the diced onion. Cook until the meat is no longer pink and the onion is soft. Drain any excess grease.
Add the minced garlic and cook for one more minute until fragrant. Stir in the marinara sauce, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and sugar (if using). Reduce heat to low and let the sauce simmer for 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.

3. Prepare the Cheese Filling:
In a large bowl, combine the cottage cheese (or ricotta), softened cream cheese, sour cream, egg, Parmesan cheese, and parsley. Mix until the mixture is smooth and well-combined.

4. Assemble the Lasagna:
In a 9×13-inch baking dish, follow this layering order:

• Base: Spread a thin layer of meat sauce to cover the bottom.

• Layer 1: Place 3 lasagna noodles over the sauce.

• Layer 2: Spread ⅓ of the cheese mixture over the noodles.

• Layer 3: Spoon ⅓ of the remaining meat sauce over the cheese.

• Layer 4: Sprinkle 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.

• Repeat this sequence (noodles → cheese → meat → mozzarella) two more times.

5. Bake:
Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 30 minutes. Then, remove the foil and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese on top is golden and bubbly.

6. Rest and Serve:
Remove the lasagna from the oven and let it rest for at least 10-15 minutes before slicing. This crucial step allows the layers to set, making it much easier to cut and serve clean portions.