Million Dollar Lasagna

Million Dollar Lasagna

This Million Dollar Lasagna is seriously THE BEST lasagna we've ever eaten!!! SO easy to make and tastes like a million bucks. Lasagna noodles, cottage cheese, cream cheese, sour cream, Italian sausage, spaghetti sauce, tomato sauce, mozzarella, and parmesan. Serve with some garlic bread and a salad. It can be made in advance and refrigerated. Freeze leftovers for later. We LOVE this lasagna casserole recipe!!!

Easy Lasagna Recipe

Lasagna is a holiday tradition at our house. Growing up I didn't enjoy the traditional holiday turkey and dressing dinners. My Mom would make lasagna the night before the holiday so I could eat leftover lasagna for my holiday meal. Nowadays I eat the turkey holiday meal but we still have lasagna the night before. This Million Dollar Lasagna recipe is a favorite. Loaded with meat sauce and four kinds of ooey gooey cheese!

How to Make Million Dollar Lasagna

This Million Dollar Lasagna is very simple to make. Start with boiling the noodles. While the noodles are cooking, brown the Italian sausage. Add a jar of spaghetti sauce and some tomato sauce to the cooked sausage and let that simmer for 5 or 10 minutes. This will thicken the sauce so your lasagna isn't watery.

While the sauce is simmering mix up the cheese filling. The filling is a combination of cream cheese, sour cream, and cottage cheese. 

To assemble the lasagna, you are going to layer 1/2 of the noodles, 1/2 of the cheese mixture, 1/3 of the mozzarella cheese, 1/2 of the meat sauce, and 1/2 of the parmesan cheese. Repeat the layers and top the casserole with a layer of mozzarella cheese slices.

Can Lasagna Be Made in Advance?

This Million Dollar Lasagna is a great make-ahead meal. You can assemble the lasagna the night before and refrigerate it until ready to bake. You can also freeze the casserole unbaked for a quick meal later. You can also freeze any leftovers. I like to cut the leftovers into individual slices before freezing. I wrap the slices in plastic wrap and place them in freezer bags. Perfect for when you only need one or two slices for dinner.

Million Dollar Lasagna Is Great For A Crowd

This Million Dollar Lasagna is great for a crowd. You can serve at least 8 to 10 people with one pan. All you need is a salad and some garlic bread and you are set! Here are a few of our favorite recipes from the blog that go great with this delicious Million Dollar Lasagna:

• Creamy Italiano Salad
• Crunchy Romaine Toss
• Easy Parmesan Bread Twists
• Copycat Pizza Hut Breadsticks
• Italian Green Bean Salad

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quick, easy, simple, best, aluminum pan, sausage, be made in advance, make-ahead, freeze, make the night before, pasta

Entree, Casserole

Italian

Yield: serves 8 to 10Author: Stephanie @ PlainChicken.com

Million Dollar Lasagna Recipe

prep time: 15 minscook time: 55 mins total time: 1 hour 10 mins

This Million Dollar Lasagna is seriously THE BEST lasagna we've ever eaten!!! SO easy to make and tastes like a million bucks. Lasagna noodles, cottage cheese, cream cheese, sour cream, Italian sausage, spaghetti sauce, tomato sauce, mozzarella, and parmesan. Serve with some garlic bread and a salad. Can make in advance and refrigerate. Freeze leftovers for later. We LOVE this lasagna casserole recipe!!!

ingredients:

• 12 lasagna noodles
• 1-1/4 lbs Italian sausage or ground beef
• 1 (24-oz) jar spaghetti sauce
• 2 (8-oz) can tomato sauce
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 (24-oz) container cottage cheese
• 1 (8-oz) block of cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 Tbsp dried parsley
• 1 lb mozzarella cheese slices
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375ºF.
2. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
3. Brown sausage in a skillet over medium heat; drain. Stir in spaghetti sauce, tomato sauce, and Italian seasoning. Simmer over low heat for 5 to 10 minutes, until the sauce starts to thicken. Remove from heat and set aside.
4. In a bowl, combine cottage cheese, cream cheese, sour cream, egg, and parsley. Set aside.
5. Lightly spray a 9x13-inch pan with cooking spray. Spread 1 cup meat sauce in the bottom of the pan. Top with 6 lasagna noodles, lengthwise and overlapping to cover.
6. Top noodles with half of the cottage cheese, top with third of mozzarella cheese. Spoon 1/2 of meat sauce over cheese; sprinkle with 1/4 cup parmesan.
7. Repeat layering; starting with 6 lasagna noodles and ending with remaining meat sauce and parmesan cheese. Top with remaining mozzarella cheese. Cover with foil.
8. Bake lasagna covered for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake uncovered an additional 30 minutes, until bubbly. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.

NOTES:

Can prepare lasagna through Step 7 and refrigerate or freeze for later. To bake lasagna after freezing, thaw completely and bake as directed above. 

Can use shredded mozzarella cheese instead of slices.

All images and text ©Plain Chicken, Inc.

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