Million Dollar Lasagna—rich, cheesy, and simply irresistible!
Ingredients:
For the Meat Sauce: 1 lb ground beef 1 lb Italian sausage 1 medium onion, chopped 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce 1 (6 oz) can tomato paste 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon black pepper ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional) For the Cheese Layer: 1 (16 oz) container cottage cheese (or ricotta) 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened ½ cup sour cream 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 egg, beaten 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese Other Ingredients: 12 lasagna noodles, cooked and drained 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (for topping) Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Prepare the meat sauce: In a large skillet, brown the ground beef, Italian sausage, and chopped onion over medium heat. Drain any excess fat. Add the garlic and sauté for an additional minute. Incorporate the sauces and seasonings: Mix in the marinara sauce, tomato sauce, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Allow to simmer for 10-15 minutes. Create the cheese mixture: In a bowl, combine the cottage cheese (or ricotta), cream cheese, sour cream, Parmesan cheese, and beaten egg until well blended. Layer the lasagna: Begin by spreading a layer of meat sauce in the bottom of the dish. Place a layer of lasagna noodles on top. Spread half of the cheese mixture over the noodles. Repeat the layers, finishing with noodles and the remaining meat sauce. Top with 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese. Bake uncovered for 45-50 minutes, or until golden and bubbly. Allow to rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing.
This lasagna is indulgent, creamy, and truly deserving of its name—a genuine Million Dollar dish! Enjoy!
