Description
Indulge in layers of rich meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and melted mozzarella with this Million Dollar Lasagna — a showstopping comfort dish that is hearty and rich.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound Italian-style ground turkey or chicken sausage
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes
- 12 ounces tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 12 lasagna noodles, cooked and drained (or no-boil noodles)
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and sausage; cook until browned, about 6–7 minutes. Drain excess fat.
- Stir in onion and garlic; cook until fragrant, 2 minutes. Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 15 minutes until thickened. This is your meat sauce.
- In a bowl, combine ricotta, egg, Italian seasoning, salt, and half of the Parmesan cheese. Mix until creamy. This is your cheese filling.
- Spread 1/2 cup meat sauce on the bottom of the baking dish.
- Arrange 3 noodles in a single layer.
- Spread 1/3 of the ricotta mixture over the noodles.
- Add 1 cup of meat sauce and 1 cup of mozzarella.
- Repeat the layering process two more times.
- Finish with the remaining noodles, sauce, mozzarella, and Parmesan on top.
- Cover the dish with foil (spray the underside with nonstick spray to prevent sticking) and bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake for another 20 minutes, until bubbly and golden on top.
- Let the lasagna rest for 10–15 minutes before slicing. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, substitute the meat with sautéed mushrooms, zucchini, and spinach.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American