Million Dollar Lasagna Recipe

This lasagna recipe truly lives up to its name. Rich layers of creamy cheese, savory meat sauce, and perfectly cooked noodles come together in a decadent casserole that tastes like a million bucks — without costing much at all. Whether you’re cooking for Sunday dinner, a holiday, or prepping leftovers that get even better the next day, this is the ultimate comfort food dish that everyone will ask for again.

Why You’ll Love This Lasagna Recipe

this recipe

• Ultra-creamy cheese filling thanks to ricotta, cream cheese, and sour cream
• Hearty, flavorful meat sauce with beef and Italian sausage
• No-fail results — easy to layer and bake
• Make-ahead and freezer-friendly
• Crowd-pleasing classic perfect for family dinners or potlucks

Ingredients

For the Meat Sauce:

• 1 lb ground beef (80/20 recommended)
• ½ lb Italian sausage
• ½ yellow onion, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 24 oz marinara sauce
• 14 oz canned diced tomatoes
• 2 tsp tomato paste
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• Salt & black pepper to taste

For the Cheese Mixture:

• 1 cup ricotta cheese (or cottage cheese)
• 4 oz cream cheese, softened
• ½ cup sour cream
• 1 large egg
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (reserve rest for topping)

For Assembly:

• 12 lasagna noodles (boiled or oven-ready)
• Remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese
• Fresh parsley or basil (optional garnish)

Instructions

1. Prepare the Meat Sauce
   In a large skillet, brown the ground beef and sausage over medium heat. Add diced onion and minced garlic. Cook until the meat is browned and the onion is soft. Stir in marinara sauce, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10–15 minutes.
2. Make the Cheese Filling
   In a bowl, mix ricotta (or cottage cheese), cream cheese, sour cream, egg, Parmesan, and half the mozzarella until smooth and creamy.
3. Preheat Oven & Prep Dish
   Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
4. Layer the Lasagna
   Spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom. Add 3 lasagna noodles. Spread one-third of the cheese mixture over the noodles. Top with more meat sauce. Repeat layers until all ingredients are used, ending with a final layer of noodles, meat sauce, and remaining mozzarella on top.
5. Bake
   Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 20 minutes until cheese is golden and bubbly.
6. Let It Rest & Serve
   Allow lasagna to rest for 10–15 minutes before slicing. Garnish with chopped parsley or basil and serve warm.

Recipe Details

• Prep Time: 25 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Servings: 8
• Difficulty: Intermediate

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving – Estimate)

• Calories: 550–600
• Protein: 28g
• Carbohydrates: 30g
• Fat: 35g
• Saturated Fat: 18g
• Sodium: 1050mg
• Sugar: 4g
• Cholesterol: 135mg

Tips & Variations

Make-Ahead Tips

• Assemble lasagna a day in advance and refrigerate. Bake as directed when ready.
• Freeze before baking for up to 3 months (cover tightly with foil).

Cheese Tips

• Use cottage cheese for a lighter texture.
• Want more cheese pull? Add extra mozzarella on top!

Vegetarian Option

• Replace meat with sautéed mushrooms, zucchini, and spinach.

Noodle Tips

• Oven-ready noodles save time, but make sure your sauce is extra saucy so they cook fully.
• Traditional noodles work great too — just boil and drain before assembling.

Million Dollar Lasagna Recipe

Rich, creamy, and cheesy — this Million Dollar Lasagna is the best lasagna recipe you’ll ever try.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 25 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Servings: 8 lasagna

Course: dinner, Main Dish

Cuisine: italian – american

Calories: 600

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• – 1 lb ground beef
• – ½ lb Italian sausage
• – ½ onion diced
• – 3 garlic cloves minced
• – 24 oz marinara sauce
• – 14 oz diced tomatoes
• – 2 tsp tomato paste
• – 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• – Salt and pepper to taste
• – 1 cup ricotta or cottage cheese
• – 4 oz cream cheese
• – ½ cup sour cream
• – 1 egg
• – ½ cup Parmesan
• – 1 cup shredded mozzarella
• – 12 lasagna noodles
• – 1 cup mozzarella for topping
• – Fresh parsley or basil

Equipment

• Skillet
• – 9×13″ baking dish
• Mixing bowls
• Foil

Method

 

1. Brown beef and sausage. Add onion, garlic, and seasonings. Simmer with tomatoes and marinara.
2. Mix ricotta, cream cheese, sour cream, egg, Parmesan, and half of the mozzarella.
3. Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9×13 baking dish.
4. Layer meat sauce, noodles, cheese mixture. Repeat layers, ending with sauce and mozzarella.
5. Cover with foil and bake 25 min. Uncover and bake 20 more min.
6. Let rest 10–15 min before slicing. Garnish and serve.

Notes

– Can be assembled ahead and frozen
– Use no-boil noodles for easy prep
– Vegetarian? Sub meat with sautéed veggies

FAQs

Can I use cottage cheese instead of ricotta?
Yes! Cottage cheese gives a lighter texture and still delivers that creamy, cheesy layer.

How do I keep lasagna from being runny?
Let it rest after baking for 10–15 minutes before slicing — this helps it set.

Can I freeze lasagna after baking?
Absolutely. Let it cool completely, then slice and freeze in airtight containers.

What’s the best way to reheat leftovers?
Cover slices with foil and reheat in a 350°F oven for 20–25 minutes, or microwave on medium power for 2–3 minutes.

Conclusion

This Million Dollar Lasagna recipe is the ultimate in cozy, indulgent comfort food. It’s rich, creamy, and packed with layers of flavor that taste even better the next day. Whether you’re feeding a crowd or just craving something special, this dish delivers every single time. Add garlic bread, a crisp salad, and maybe a glass of red wine — you’ve got yourself a million-dollar dinner.