Million Dollar Italian Lasagna: The Ultimate Layered Baked Pasta Recipe
Million Dollar Italian Lasagna is the ultimate layered baked pasta featuring rich meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and a golden crusty cheese top, perfect for family dinners or special occasions.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 13 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 58 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Halal
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Lasagna Noodles and Meat
- 16 oz (450g) dried wavy lasagna noodles (Boiled to al dente.)
- 1 lb (450g) ground beef (80/20) (Browned into crumbles.)
- 1 tbsp (15ml) extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium (150g) yellow onion (Diced.)
- 4 cloves (12g) garlic (Minced.)
Sauce and Cheese
- 28 oz (800g) crushed tomatoes
- 2 tbsp (30g) tomato paste
- 2 cups (480g) whole milk ricotta cheese
- 1 large (50g) egg (Acts as a binder.)
- 3 cups (300g) low-moisture shredded mozzarella cheese (Divided use.)
- 1 cup (100g) grated parmesan cheese (Divided use.)
Garnish
- 2 tbsp (8g) fresh green parsley (Finely chopped for garnish.)
- 1 tsp (2g) red pepper flakes (For garnish.)
Instructions
- Preparation and Sauce – Make the Meat Sauce Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until deep brown, crispy crumbles form. Add diced onion and garlic, sautéing until translucent. Stir in tomato paste for 2 minutes, then pour in crushed tomatoes. Simmer for 20 minutes until thick and chunky.
- Whip the Ricotta – In a bowl, mix the ricotta cheese, egg, half of the parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper until thick and creamy.
- Boil the Noodles – Boil wavy lasagna noodles in salted water for 2 minutes less than package instructions. Drain and pat dry.
- Assembly and Baking – Layer the Lasagna Spread a thin layer of meat sauce in a white rectangular ceramic baking dish. Add a layer of overlapping wavy noodles. Spread half the creamy ricotta mixture over the noodles, top with meat sauce, and a handful of mozzarella. Repeat.
- Top with Cheese – Finish with a final layer of noodles, remaining meat sauce, and a thick layer of the remaining mozzarella and parmesan cheeses.
- Bake – Cover tightly with greased foil and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 35 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 15 minutes. Broil for 2-3 minutes until a thick, golden-brown crust with charred, crispy edges forms.
- Garnish and Rest – Remove from oven and rest for 20 minutes. Garnish the melted cheese surface with finely chopped fresh green parsley and tiny scattered red pepper flakes before slicing.
Notes
- Brown the ground beef until crispy crumbles form for best texture.
- Boil noodles 2 minutes less than package instructions to avoid overcooking during baking.
- Rest lasagna for 20 minutes after baking to set layers for easier slicing.