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Million Dollar Italian Lasagna

Million Dollar Italian Lasagna: A Hearty Family Favorite

Enjoy the rich flavors of Million Dollar Italian Lasagna, a crowd-pleasing dish that's easy to prepare.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Resting Time 15 minutes
Total Time 2 hours
Servings: 8 slices
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 450
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Meat Sauce
  • 2 tablespoons Olive Oil Can be swapped with canola oil
  • 1 medium Onion Chopped
  • 3 cloves Garlic Minced
  • 1 pound Ground Beef Substitute with ground turkey or chicken if desired
  • 1 pound Italian Sausage Can omit for a meatless version
  • 28 ounces Crushed Tomatoes Can substitute with diced tomatoes or tomato sauce
  • 2 tablespoons Tomato Paste Can use more crushed tomatoes for a lighter sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Sugar Omit if avoiding sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Dried Basil
  • 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 1 teaspoon Pepper
For the Cheese Mixture
  • 16 ounces Ricotta Cheese Can substitute with blended cottage cheese
  • 1 cup Sour Cream Greek yogurt is a healthier replacement
  • 1 large Egg Acts as a binder
  • ½ cup Grated Parmesan Freshly grated is preferable
  • 1 handful Chopped Parsley Can use basil or oregano for variety
For the Topping
  • 2 cups Mozzarella Cheese Shredded

Equipment

  • large skillet
  • Mixing Bowl
  • baking dish

Method
 

Preparation Steps
  1. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté 1 chopped onion for 5 minutes until translucent.
  2. Add 3 cloves of minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
  3. Stir in 1 pound of ground beef and 1 pound of Italian sausage, cooking until browned, about 8–10 minutes. Drain excess fat.
  4. Stir in 28 ounces of crushed tomatoes, 2 tablespoons of tomato paste, sugar, basil, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 20-25 minutes.
  5. In a mixing bowl, combine 16 ounces of ricotta cheese, 1 cup of sour cream, 1 beaten egg, ½ cup of grated Parmesan cheese, and chopped parsley. Mix until smooth.
  6. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a baking dish with olive oil.
  7. Spread a layer of meat sauce at the bottom, followed by lasagna noodles, a layer of ricotta mixture, more meat sauce, and shredded mozzarella cheese. Repeat the layers.
  8. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 15-20 minutes until bubbly and golden.
  9. Let the lasagna rest for at least 15 minutes before slicing.

Nutrition

Serving: 1sliceCalories: 450kcalCarbohydrates: 36gProtein: 28gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 80mgSodium: 800mgPotassium: 600mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 20IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 15mgIron: 15mg

Notes

Drain excess fat from meat sauce for best flavor. Allow to rest before serving for perfect slices.

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