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A close-up shot of the rich meat sauce simmering in a pan, a key component of the homemade lasagna.

Million Dollar Lasagna: The Ultimate Rich & Creamy Recipe

This Million Dollar Lasagna recipe features a rich, hearty meat sauce and a famously creamy cheese filling made with cottage cheese, cream cheese, and sour cream. It's the ultimate comfort food, perfect for family dinners and gatherings.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian-American
Calories: 580
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Meat Sauce
  • 1 lb ground Italian sausage
  • 1 lb lean ground beef
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 48 oz marinara sauce two 24-oz jars
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • Salt and pepper to taste
For the Cheese Filling & Assembly
  • 16 oz cottage cheese
  • 8 oz cream cheese softened
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese plus more for topping
  • 1 large egg
  • 12 lasagna noodles cooked according to package directions
  • 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Equipment

  • 1 9x13 inch Baking Dish
  • 1 Large skillet or Dutch oven
  • 1 Large Pot

Instructions
 

  1. Make the Meat Sauce: In a large skillet, cook the Italian sausage and ground beef over medium-high heat until browned. Drain excess grease. Add the onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Add the marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook for at least 15 minutes.
  2. Prepare the Cheese Filling: In a large bowl, mix together the cottage cheese, softened cream cheese, sour cream, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, and the egg until well combined.
  3. Cook Noodles & Preheat Oven: Cook lasagna noodles according to package directions until al dente. Drain well. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
  4. Assemble Lasagna: Spread a thin layer of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Arrange a layer of noodles on top. Spread half of the cheese filling over the noodles. Top with one-third of the meat sauce and a layer of mozzarella. Repeat the layers: noodles, remaining cheese filling, more meat sauce, and mozzarella. Finish with a final layer of noodles, the rest of the meat sauce, and a generous topping of mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
  5. Bake: Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes, until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly browned.
  6. Rest and Serve: Let the lasagna rest for at least 15 minutes before cutting and serving. This helps the layers set for cleaner slices.

Notes

Make-Ahead Tip: Assemble the entire lasagna (without baking), cover tightly, and refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before baking.
Ricotta Substitution: If you're not a fan of cottage cheese, you can substitute it with an equal amount of whole-milk ricotta cheese.
Let it Rest: This is the most important tip! Letting the lasagna rest after baking is crucial for allowing the layers to set. Don't skip it!
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