Ingredients
For the Meat Sauce:
- 1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
- 1 can (6 oz) tomato paste
- 2 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the Cheese Mixture:
- 15 oz ricotta cheese
- 1 egg
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup sour cream or béchamel sauce
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
For the Lasagna:
- 9-12 lasagna noodles (regular or no-boil)
- Additional mozzarella and Parmesan cheese for topping
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Make the Meat Sauce:
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef or sausage over medium heat. Drain excess fat.
- Add chopped onion and garlic, cooking until soft.
- Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Let simmer for about 30 minutes.
- Prepare the Cheese Mixture:
- In a bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg, 1 cup mozzarella, 1/2 cup Parmesan, sour cream or béchamel, and chopped parsley. Mix until smooth.
- Assemble the Lasagna:
- Spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Layer with cooked lasagna noodles (if using regular noodles, cook according to package instructions).
- Spread a layer of the cheese mixture over the noodles, followed by meat sauce.
- Repeat layers—noodles, cheese mixture, meat sauce—until all ingredients are used, finishing with meat sauce on top.
- Sprinkle remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese over the top.
- Bake:
- Cover with aluminum foil (to prevent sticking, spray the foil with cooking spray) and bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake for an additional 25 minutes, or until the top is golden and bubbly.
- Cool and Serve:
- Let it cool for about 15 minutes before slicing. Garnish with fresh herbs if desired.
Enjoy your Million Dollar Lasagna! It’s delicious for any gathering or a cozy family dinner.