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A delicious baked dish of Million Dollar Lasagna is shown as the featured image for a food blog post.

Million Dollar Lasagna

This Million Dollar Lasagna recipe is a carefully crafted symphony of flavors and textures, featuring a rich meat sauce, creamy cheese filling, and perfectly cooked lasagna noodles. The key is to use quality ingredients and pay attention to technique, resulting in a lasagna that is both structurally sound and incredibly delicious.
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Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Servings: 12
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian-American
Calories: 600
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb Italian sausage, casings removed
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 9 lasagna noodles
  • 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • Water for boiling noodles

Equipment

  • Large skillet or Dutch oven
  • Medium bowl
  • 9x13-inch baking dish
  • aluminum foil
  • Spoon
  • knife
  • cutting board
  • measuring cups and spoons
  • colander

Method
 

  1. Prepare the Meat Sauce: In a large skillet or Dutch oven, brown the Italian sausage and ground beef over medium-high heat, breaking them up with a spoon. Drain off any excess grease.
  2. Add the onion and garlic to the skillet and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
  3. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, oregano, basil, salt, pepper, and parsley. Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low, and cook for at least 30 minutes, or up to 1 hour, stirring occasionally. The longer it simmers, the richer the flavor.
  4. Prepare the Cheese Filling: In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, parsley, egg, salt, and nutmeg. Mix well.
  5. Assemble the Lasagna: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
  6. Cook lasagna noodles according to package directions until al dente. Drain well.
  7. Spread a thin layer of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.
  8. Arrange 3 lasagna noodles over the sauce, overlapping as needed.
  9. Spread half of the ricotta cheese mixture over the noodles.
  10. Sprinkle with 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.
  11. Spoon half of the remaining meat sauce over the mozzarella cheese.
  12. Repeat layers: 3 lasagna noodles, remaining ricotta cheese mixture, 1 cup of mozzarella cheese, remaining meat sauce.
  13. Top with the remaining 3 lasagna noodles and the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.
  14. Sprinkle with the 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese.
  15. Bake: Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the lasagna is heated through.
  16. Let the lasagna rest for 10-15 minutes before cutting and serving. This allows the layers to set and prevents it from being a soupy mess.

Notes

For the best flavor, simmer the meat sauce for at least an hour. Use high-quality cheeses for optimal taste and texture. Resting the lasagna after baking is crucial to prevent it from being too runny. Lasagna can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave until heated through.