Million Dollar Lasagna
A comforting and indulgent layered lasagna featuring marinara sauce, ricotta, mozzarella, and ground beef that brings families together around the dinner table.
Ingredients
For the meat sauce
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 onion onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 24 oz marinara sauce 1 jar
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- to taste Salt and pepper
For the cheese mixture
- 15 oz ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese Plus 2 cups for topping
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
For assembly
- 12 pieces cooked lasagna noodles
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until browned. Drain excess fat.
- Add diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet. Cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes.
- Stir in marinara sauce, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Simmer on low for 10 minutes.
- In a separate bowl, combine ricotta cheese, 2 cups mozzarella, Parmesan, egg, and parsley until smooth.
Assembly
- Spread a scoop of meat sauce on the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- Layer in 4 lasagna noodles over the sauce.
- Top with 1/3 of the ricotta cheese mixture, followed by 1/3 of the meat sauce. Repeat twice more.
- Finish with a layer of meat sauce on top and sprinkle remaining shredded mozzarella.
Baking
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove foil and continue baking for an additional 15 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden.
- Let the lasagna rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
Add red pepper flakes for more depth, mix ground meats for complex flavors, and garnish with fresh herbs before serving.