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Million Dollar Lasagna Recipe That Tastes Like a Million Bucks

Let’s be honest—we’ve all had a lasagna moment. That night when you want comfort, but not just any comfort. You want layers of love, gooey cheese, hearty meat, and noodles so soft they practically sigh when you scoop them out of the dish. That’s where this million dollar lasagna recipe steps in. I’ve been making lasagna since college, when I thought layering sauce and cheese meant I had my life together. Spoiler: I didn’t. But now? Now I’ve nailed it. We’re talking rich layers of creamy ricotta, savory beef, and a sauce that hugs every noodle. It’s got a little spin on the traditional—think of it as if a lasagna had a glow-up and decided to live its best life. Whether you’re looking for a lasagna recipe chicken lovers will appreciate, experimenting with a million dollar chicken recipe twist, or swapping noodles for a zucchini lasagna recipe vibe, this one’s got you. It even plays nice with spinach or becomes creamy and dreamy if that’s your style. Welcome to the only lasagna recipe you’ll ever bookmark again.
Prep Time25 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Total Time1 hour 5 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian-American
Keywords: creamy lasagna recipe, lasagna recipe, lasagna recipe chicken, lasagna recipe with spinach, million dollar chicken recipe, million dollar spaghetti recipe easy, zucchini lasagna recipe
Servings: 12 servings
Author: Kathy

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1/2 lb Italian sausage
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
  • 1 can (15 oz) crushed tomatoes
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 1 box lasagna noodles, cooked and drained
  • 2 cups cottage cheese or ricotta cheese
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • Chopped parsley for garnish

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. In a large skillet, cook the ground beef, sausage, and onion over medium heat until browned. Add garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
  3. Drain excess fat. Stir in marinara sauce, crushed tomatoes, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes.
  4. In a bowl, mix ricotta or cottage cheese with egg and Parmesan cheese until combined.
  5. Spread a thin layer of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish.
  6. Layer 3-4 noodles over the sauce, then spread with 1/3 of the cheese mixture and 1/3 of the meat sauce. Repeat layers twice more.
  7. Top with shredded mozzarella cheese.
  8. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 15 minutes until bubbly and golden.
  9. Let rest 10 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with parsley and serve like the hero you are.

Notes

If you want to lighten it up, swap in ground turkey or even go meatless with mushrooms and spinach. For a low-carb version, use thin zucchini slices instead of noodles.