Extra Creamy Lasagna – Million Dollar Italian Dinner
This Million Dollar Lasagna is layered with rich meat sauce, a creamy blend of ricotta and cream cheese, and plenty of melty mozzarella. Comforting, indulgent, and easy to make ahead or freeze!
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
Ingredients
Scale
- 9–12 lasagna noodles, cooked
- 1 lb ground beef or sausage
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce
- 1 tbsp tomato paste (optional)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Cheese Layer:
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1½ cups ricotta cheese
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan
- 1 egg
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp dried parsley or basil
Topping:
- 2½ cups shredded mozzarella
- Extra Parmesan for top
Instructions
- Sauté onion and garlic, add beef, cook until browned. Stir in marinara, seasoning, and tomato paste. Simmer 10–15 min.
- Mix cream cheese, ricotta, egg, Parmesan, garlic powder, and herbs until smooth.
- Layer in a greased 9×13 dish: sauce, noodles, cheese mixture, mozzarella — repeat. Top with sauce, mozzarella, and Parmesan.
- Cover and bake at 375°F for 25–30 min. Uncover and bake 15–20 more until golden and bubbly.
- Let rest 10–15 minutes before slicing.
Notes
- Can be made ahead or frozen before baking.
- Add veggies or swap meat for mushrooms to make it vegetarian.
- Reheat gently for best texture.