Ultimate Million Dollar Creamy Beef Lasagna – 7 Irresistible Layers Recipe
Ultimate Million Dollar Creamy Beef Lasagna is a rich, comforting family favorite featuring seven irresistible layers of savory beef sauce, ultra-creamy cheese filling, and tender lasagna noodles. This dish combines perfectly seasoned ground beef with a luscious blend of ricotta, cream cheese, sour cream, mozzarella, and Parmesan, baked to bubbly perfection for a satisfying and hearty meal.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 45 mins
- Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Sauce
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lb ground beef
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp paprika
- 24 oz marinara sauce
Lasagna & Cheese Layers
- 12 lasagna noodles, cooked
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prepare for assembling the lasagna.
- Sauté Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté the finely diced onion until soft and translucent, then add the minced garlic and cook briefly until fragrant.
- Cook Beef: Add ground beef to the skillet. Season with salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and paprika. Cook the beef until browned, breaking it up with a spoon, then drain any excess fat from the pan.
- Simmer Sauce: Stir in marinara sauce with the cooked beef and allow the mixture to simmer gently for about 5 minutes. Remove from heat once combined and flavorful.
- Prepare Cheese Mixture: In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta, cream cheese, sour cream, shredded mozzarella, grated Parmesan, and chopped fresh parsley. Mix until smooth and creamy.
- Assemble Lasagna: Spread a thin layer of the meat sauce on the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Layer cooked lasagna noodles on top, followed by a generous layer of the creamy cheese mixture, then more meat sauce. Repeat these layers to build seven delicious layers.
- Bake Covered: Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the dish to heat through.
- Bake Uncovered: Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 10 to 15 minutes until the lasagna is bubbly and the top is lightly golden.
- Rest and Serve: Let the lasagna rest for 10 minutes after baking. This helps it set and makes slicing easier before serving.
Notes
- Use fresh parsley for best flavor or substitute with dried parsley if unavailable.
- Cooking lasagna noodles according to package instructions prevents them from overcooking in the oven.
- Allowing the lasagna to rest after baking ensures clean slices without falling apart.
- You can prepare the meat sauce ahead and refrigerate overnight to save time.
- If desired, add extra mozzarella on top before baking uncovered for a cheesier crust.
Keywords: creamy beef lasagna, layered lasagna, beef pasta bake, Italian comfort food, cheesy lasagna recipe, family dinner, easy lasagna
