Cozy Million Dollar Lasagna – Better Than Takeout
Million Dollar Lasagna is the ultimate comfort food, packed with ground beef, Italian sausage, and three kinds of cheese. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the secret to keeping it from being too soupy. Jump to the recipe card or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Oatmeal Molasses Rolls and Easy Breakfast Enchiladas.
Why This Cozy Million Dollar Lasagna – Better Than Takeout Is Pure Comfort
- Layers of creamy ricotta and melted mozzarella
- Perfect balance of ground beef and Italian sausage
- Easy to make ahead and freeze for later
What You'll Need for Cozy Million Dollar Lasagna – Better Than Takeout
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb Italian sausage
- 15 oz ricotta cheese
- 3 cups shredded mozzarella
- 1 cup grated Parmesan
- 12 lasagna noodles
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 2 jars (6 oz each) tomato paste
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Optional: Fresh basil, chopped
- Optional: Red pepper flakes
- Optional: Extra grated Parmesan
📝 Ingredient Notes
- ground beef: Use 80/20 ground beef for best flavor.
- Italian sausage: Remove casings if using sausage links.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Instant-read meat thermometer — Ensures perfect doneness for ground meats → See on Amazon
- 9×13 inch baking dish — Perfect size for lasagna, pays for itself vs takeout → See on Amazon
How to Make Cozy Million Dollar Lasagna – Better Than Takeout
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). In a large skillet, cook ground beef and Italian sausage over medium heat until browned. Drain fat.
- Step 2: Add onion and garlic to skillet, cooking until softened. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 15 minutes.
- Step 3: Spread 1/3 of the meat sauce in the bottom of the baking dish. Arrange a layer of lasagna noodles on top, followed by 1/3 of the ricotta, 1/3 of the mozzarella, and 1/4 of the Parmesan. Repeat layers twice more, ending with meat sauce and remaining cheeses.
- Step 4: Cover baking dish with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly and golden.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Cozy Million Dollar Lasagna – Better Than Takeout
- Common mistake and fix: Don't overcook lasagna noodles before assembling. They'll continue to cook in the oven.
- Time-saving tip: Prepare lasagna a day ahead and refrigerate before baking. Let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before baking.
- Flavor boost: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the meat sauce for a little heat.
Storing & Reheating Cozy Million Dollar Lasagna – Better Than Takeout
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Make-ahead tip: Lasagna can be assembled a day ahead and refrigerated before baking.
Freezing Cozy Million Dollar Lasagna – Better Than Takeout
Freeze assembled lasagna before baking for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight before baking.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat leftovers in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes. Microwave: Reheat individual portions in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: Use a fork to gently spread ricotta on the lasagna noodles to avoid tearing.
- Best substitution: Substitute ground turkey or chicken for the ground beef and Italian sausage.
- Make-ahead: Lasagna can be made ahead and frozen, then thawed overnight in the refrigerator before baking.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled to serve a larger crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If lasagna is still soupy after baking, let it rest for 15-20 minutes before serving to allow the sauce to thicken.
Want to level up this recipe?
High-quality lasagna noodles — Better texture and less likely to break apart → Check price on Amazon
Cozy Million Dollar Lasagna – Better Than Takeout
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb Italian sausage
- 15 oz ricotta cheese
- 3 cups shredded mozzarella
- 1 cup grated Parmesan
- 12 lasagna noodles
Seasonings
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 2 jars (6 oz each) tomato paste
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Optional Toppings
- Fresh basil, chopped
- Red pepper flakes
- Extra grated Parmesan
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). In a large skillet, cook ground beef and Italian sausage over medium heat until browned. Drain fat.
- Step 2: Add onion and garlic to skillet, cooking until softened. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 15 minutes.
- Step 3: Spread 1/3 of the meat sauce in the bottom of the baking dish. Arrange a layer of lasagna noodles on top, followed by 1/3 of the ricotta, 1/3 of the mozzarella, and 1/4 of the Parmesan. Repeat layers twice more, ending with meat sauce and remaining cheeses.
- Step 4: Cover baking dish with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly and golden.
Notes
- Chef tip: Use a fork to gently spread ricotta on the lasagna noodles to avoid tearing.
- Best substitution: Substitute ground turkey or chicken for the ground beef and Italian sausage.
- Make-ahead: Lasagna can be made ahead and frozen, then thawed overnight in the refrigerator before baking.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled to serve a larger crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If lasagna is still soupy after baking, let it rest for 15-20 minutes before serving to allow the sauce to thicken.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze assembled lasagna before baking for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight before baking.
- Oven reheat: Reheat leftovers in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat individual portions in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
- Make ahead: Lasagna can be assembled a day ahead and refrigerated before baking.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 450
- Protein: 32g
- Fat: 24g
- Carbs: 32g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 1200mg
- Cholesterol: 105mg
- Sat. Fat: 12g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Cozy Million Dollar Lasagna – Better Than Takeout FAQs
Yes, lasagna can be assembled a day ahead and refrigerated before baking. Or, freeze assembled lasagna before baking for up to 2 months.
Lasagna can be too soupy if not cooked long enough or if the lasagna noodles release too much starch. Make sure to cook the meat sauce long enough and use oven-ready lasagna noodles if possible.
No, lasagna is not suitable for cooking in the air fryer. It requires even heat distribution and a longer cooking time than the air fryer can provide.
Ground turkey or chicken can be used as a substitute for Italian sausage in Million Dollar Lasagna.
Yes, no-boil lasagna noodles can be used in this recipe. They will continue to cook in the oven and should be tender when done.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Cozy Million Dollar Lasagna – Better Than Takeout and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
