Million Dollar Italian Lasagna (Print Version)
Savory layers of pasta, meat, and cheese make this Italian classic a crowd-pleaser for any occasion.
# Ingredients:
→ Pasta and Meat
01 -
12 lasagna noodles
02 -
567 g Italian sausage or ground beef
03 -
680 g tomato-based pasta sauce
04 -
454 g canned tomato sauce
05 -
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
→ Cheese Mixture
06 -
680 g cottage cheese
07 -
227 g cream cheese, softened
08 -
60 ml sour cream
09 -
1 egg, beaten
10 -
1 tablespoon dried parsley
→ For Layering
11 -
454 g mozzarella cheese, sliced
12 -
50 g grated parmesan cheese
# Instructions:
01 -
Preheat oven to 190°C. Cook lasagna noodles in salted boiling water until al dente according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
02 -
Brown Italian sausage or ground beef in a medium skillet over medium heat. Drain excess fat. Stir in tomato-based pasta sauce, tomato sauce, and Italian seasoning. Simmer for 5–10 minutes until thickened.
03 -
In a large bowl, combine cottage cheese, softened cream cheese, sour cream, beaten egg, and dried parsley. Mix until well incorporated.
04 -
Lightly grease a 23x33 cm baking dish. Spread 250 ml meat sauce on the base. Arrange 6 cooked lasagna noodles lengthwise, slightly overlapping. Layer with half the cheese mixture, then one-third mozzarella, half the meat sauce, and 25 g parmesan. Repeat layers, finishing with remaining cheese.
05 -
Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 30 minutes until bubbling and golden. Allow to stand for at least 15 minutes before slicing and serving.
# Notes:
01 -
Allowing the lasagna to rest helps maintain defined layers when portioning.