13/11/2025
💎 Million‑Dollar Lasagna 💎
A rich, indulgent layered lasagna bursting with hearty meat sauce, creamy ricotta, melted cheeses and bold Italian flavor—perfect for celebrations or cozy nights in.
Ingredients
🥩 1 lb (≈450 g) ground beef
🥩 1 lb (≈450 g) Italian sausage (casings removed)
🧅 1 medium onion, finely chopped
🧄 2‑3 garlic cloves, minced
🍅 2 × 24‑oz (≈680 g) jars marinara sauce
🍷 ½ cup red wine (optional, for depth)
🧀 1 cup ricotta cheese
🧀 1 cup cottage cheese
🧀 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (divided)
🧀 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
🥚 1 large egg
🌿 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
🌿 1 tbsp chopped fresh basil (or 1 tsp dried)
🧂 Salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste
🍝 12 lasagna noodles (regular or no‑boil)
🧀 Additional mozzarella & Parmesan for topping
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 °F (≈190 °C). Grease a 9 × 13‑inch (≈23 × 33 cm) baking dish.
In a large skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef and Italian sausage until browned, breaking it up as it cooks. Add chopped onion and minced garlic; sauté until onion softens. Drain excess fat if needed.
Stir in the marinara sauce and red wine (if using); bring to a simmer, then reduce heat and let it cook for ~10 minutes so flavors meld. Season with salt and pepper.
Meanwhile, in a bowl combine ricotta cheese, cottage cheese, shredded 1 cup mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, egg, parsley and basil; mix until smooth and set aside.
If using regular lasagna noodles, cook according to package instructions until al dente; drain and lay them out flat to prevent sticking. If using no‑boil noodles, skip this step.
In the prepared baking dish, spread about 1 cup of the meat sauce on the bottom. Layer 4 noodles side by side over the sauce. Spread half of the ricotta‑cheese mixture over the noodles. Top with about 1½ cups of meat sauce. Sprinkle with ½ cup shredded mozzarella. Repeat with another layer of 4 noodles, the remaining ricotta mixture, and ~1½ cups meat sauce. Top with the last 4 noodles, the remaining meat sauce and the remaining shredded mozzarella and a good sprinkle of Parmesan.
Cover with foil (spray underside of foil with cooking spray to prevent sticking). Bake for ~25 minutes. Remove foil and bake another ~20 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
Let the lasagna rest ~10 minutes before slicing so layers set. Garnish with fresh parsley or basil if desired.
Serve warm, slicing into generous squares.
Prep Time: 30 mins | Cooking Time: ~45 mins | Total Time: ~75 mins | Kcal: approx 650–700 per serving* | Servings: ~8