Description
Indulge in this luxurious Million Dollar Lasagna, a multi-layer pasta bake featuring a decadent trio of ricotta, cream cheese, and cottage cheese. Infused with a rich, herb-forward beef marinara and cloaked in gooey melted mozzarella and parmesan, this Italian-American classic offers the ultimate comfort food experience. Each layer is carefully balanced to ensure a velvety texture and a firm slice, making it the perfect centerpiece for a family-style dinner that feels truly special.
Ingredients
1 box lasagna noodles
1 lb lean ground beef (90/10)
15 oz full-fat ricotta cheese
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup small curd cottage cheese
24 oz quality marinara sauce
3 cups freshly shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Boil the lasagna noodles in salted water until al dente.
Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat until fully cooked.
Drain excess fat from the meat and stir in the marinara sauce.
In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta, cottage cheese, and softened cream cheese until smooth.
Spread a thin layer of the meat sauce on the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish.
Layer the noodles, the cheese mixture, and the meat sauce repeatedly until ingredients are used.
Top the final layer generously with shredded mozzarella and grated parmesan.
Bake covered with foil for 45 minutes.
Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes to allow the cheese crust to turn golden brown.
Notes
Always shred your own mozzarella from a block to ensure superior melting properties, as pre-shredded varieties contain anti-caking agents that impede smoothness. Let the lasagna rest for 10-15 minutes after removing from the oven to allow the layers to set before slicing.
- Prep Time: 30
- Cook Time: 60
- Category: Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 85mg