Million Dollar Lasagna Recipe

Million Dollar Lasagna is the ultimate comfort food — a rich, layered masterpiece that blends savory meat sauce, ultra-creamy cheese, and perfectly cooked noodles. It’s the kind of baked pasta that earns its name with every bite, delivering bold flavor, melty texture, and family-style warmth in one delicious dish.

If you’re looking to wow a crowd or just indulge in a truly satisfying dinner, this Million Dollar Lasagna Recipe is your golden ticket. The magic lies in its layers: a hearty beef-and-sausage tomato sauce, a whipped cheese filling enriched with cream cheese and sour cream, and plenty of mozzarella for that gooey finish. It’s like the classic lasagna you know — but leveled up for serious comfort food status.

❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Extra decadent: Cream cheese and sour cream take the cheese layer over the top
• Make-ahead friendly: Assemble it in advance and bake when ready
• Freezer-safe: Perfect for batch cooking and future comfort
• Crowd-pleasing: Big enough for gatherings, potlucks, or holidays
• Customizable: Easily adapted for vegetarians or different meats

🛒 Ingredients

Meat Sauce:

• 1 lb ground beef (80/20 for best flavor)
• ½ lb Italian sausage
• 1 small onion, diced
• 3–4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce
• 1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• Salt and black pepper, to taste

Cheese Layer:

• 1½ cups ricotta cheese (or cottage cheese)
• 4 oz cream cheese, softened
• ¼ cup sour cream
• 1 large egg
• ½ cup grated Parmesan
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella

For Assembly:

• 12 lasagna noodles (boiled or no-boil)
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella (for topping)
• Olive oil or cooking spray (for greasing pan)

👨‍🍳 Instructions

Step 1: Make the Meat Sauce

In a large skillet, brown ground beef and Italian sausage over medium heat. Add diced onion and garlic and sauté until softened. Stir in marinara, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10–15 minutes until thickened.

Step 2: Prepare the Cheese Filling

In a bowl, combine ricotta (or cottage cheese), softened cream cheese, sour cream, egg, Parmesan, and 1 cup of mozzarella. Mix until smooth and creamy.

Step 3: Preheat Oven and Grease Pan

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.

Step 4: Assemble the Lasagna

Layer in this order:

• A thin layer of meat sauce
• 3 lasagna noodles
• ⅓ of the cheese mixture
• More meat sauce
  Repeat until you have 3 full layers, ending with noodles, the last of the meat sauce, and mozzarella cheese on top.

Step 5: Bake

Cover tightly with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 20 minutes until the cheese is golden and bubbling.

Step 6: Let it Rest

Allow lasagna to rest for 10–15 minutes before slicing. This helps it set and slice cleanly.

⏱️ Recipe Details

this recipe

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

🔢 Nutrition Facts (per serving)

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

💡 Tips & Variations

• Vegetarian: Swap meat for sautéed mushrooms, zucchini, or spinach
• Lighter option: Use turkey or chicken sausage and low-fat cheeses
• Extra creamy: Add more sour cream or a bit of heavy cream to the cheese layer
• Spicy version: Use hot Italian sausage and crushed red pepper in the sauce
• Freezer tip: Assemble but don’t bake; freeze for up to 3 months

❓ FAQs

Can I use cottage cheese instead of ricotta?
Yes! Cottage cheese offers a lighter texture and works beautifully in this recipe.

What’s the best way to prevent runny lasagna?
Let it rest after baking, and make sure your meat sauce simmers long enough to reduce excess moisture.

Can I make this ahead of time?
Absolutely. Assemble the lasagna and refrigerate overnight before baking.

Can I use no-boil noodles?
Yes, but ensure your sauce is slightly looser so the noodles have enough liquid to absorb while baking.

Million Dollar Lasagna

A rich, creamy, layered lasagna made with a decadent cheese blend and savory meat sauce. A comfort food classic elevated to “million dollar” status.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Servings: 10

Course: dinner

Cuisine: American

Calories: 580

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• – 1 lb ground beef
• – ½ lb Italian sausage
• – 1 small onion diced
• – 3 cloves garlic minced
• – 1 24 oz jar marinara sauce
• – 1 14 oz can diced tomatoes
• – 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• – Salt and pepper to taste
• #### Cheese Mixture
• – 1½ cups ricotta or cottage cheese
• – 4 oz cream cheese softened
• – ¼ cup sour cream
• – 1 egg
• – ½ cup grated Parmesan
• – 1 cup shredded mozzarella
• #### For Assembly
• – 12 lasagna noodles cooked or no-boil
• – 1 cup shredded mozzarella for topping
• – Olive oil or cooking spray

Equipment

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

Method

 

1. In a large skillet, brown ground beef and sausage. Add onion and garlic; cook until soft.
2. Stir in marinara, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer 10–15 minutes.
3. In a bowl, mix ricotta, cream cheese, sour cream, egg, Parmesan, and 1 cup mozzarella.
4. Preheat oven to 375°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
5. Layer: meat sauce, noodles, cheese mixture — repeat 3 times, ending with meat sauce and mozzarella.
6. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Uncover and bake another 20 minutes until bubbly and golden.
7. Let rest 10–15 minutes before serving.

Notes

– Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days
– Freeze unbaked for 3 months; bake directly from frozen
– Let rest before slicing for best results

🧾 Conclusion

Million Dollar Lasagna earns its name with every creamy, cheesy, flavor-packed bite. Whether it’s for a special gathering or your next comfort food craving, this upgraded lasagna will have everyone asking for seconds. It’s not just dinner — it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that’s worth every delicious layer.