Description
If you’re looking for a rich, creamy, and flavorful lasagna that will impress family and friends, look no further than Million Dollar Lasagna!
Ingredients
Scale
For the Meat Sauce:
- 1 pound ground Italian sausage
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 small green bell pepper, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (24-ounce) jar marinara sauce
- 1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
For the Creamy Cheese Layer:
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
For Assembling the Lasagna:
- 12 lasagna noodles, cooked and drained
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Substitutions & Variations
- Swap Italian sausage for ground beef or turkey for a lighter version.
- Use cottage cheese instead of ricotta for a different texture.
- Add mushrooms or spinach for extra nutrients.
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Meat Sauce
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the Italian sausage, diced onion, and bell pepper, and cook until the meat is browned.
- Stir in the minced garlic, cooking for another 30 seconds.
- Add the marinara sauce, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes, then remove from heat.
Step 2: Create the Creamy Cheese Layer
- In a mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, ricotta cheese, sour cream, egg, and Parmesan cheese.
- Whisk until smooth and well combined.
Step 3: Assemble the Lasagna
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Add a layer of cooked lasagna noodles.
- Spread half of the creamy cheese mixture over the noodles.
- Add another layer of meat sauce and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.
- Repeat the layers until all ingredients are used, finishing with a layer of meat sauce and mozzarella cheese.
- Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese on top.
Step 4: Bake to Perfection
- Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake for another 10 minutes until golden and bubbly.
- Let the lasagna rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
Notes
✔️ Let the lasagna rest before cutting to prevent it from falling apart.
✔️ Use full-fat cheese for the best creamy texture.
✔️ Layer evenly to ensure every bite has the perfect balance of flavors.
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 40
- Category: Dinner
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 450
- Fat: 22g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Protein: 30g
Keywords: Million Dollar Lasagna