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Million Dollar Lasagna

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Million Dollar Lasagna is a rich, comforting dish that combines creamy cheeses, savory sausage, and perfectly cooked pasta in a layered masterpiece. It's easy to prepare and perfect for feeding a crowd or making ahead for busy days.

Ingredients

12 lasagna noodles

1-1/4 lbs Italian sausage or ground beef

1 (24-oz) jar spaghetti sauce

2 (8-oz) cans 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 the oven to 375ºF.
  2. Cook the lasagna noodles according to package instructions, drain, and set aside.
  3. In a skillet, brown the Italian sausage over medium heat. Once browned, drain any excess fat.
  4. Stir in the spaghetti sauce, tomato sauce, and Italian seasoning. Simmer the sauce over low heat for 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
  5. In a mixing bowl, combine the cottage cheese, softened cream cheese, sour cream, beaten egg, and dried parsley. Set aside.
  6. Lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking pan with cooking spray. Spread 1 cup of the meat sauce on the bottom of the pan.
  7. Layer 6 lasagna noodles on top, overlapping slightly to cover the bottom of the pan.
  8. Spread half of the cottage cheese mixture on top of the noodles. Layer one-third of the mozzarella cheese over the cottage cheese.
  9. Spoon half of the meat sauce over the cheese layer, then sprinkle with ¼ cup of the parmesan cheese.
  10. Repeat the layers, starting with 6 lasagna noodles and ending with the remaining meat sauce and parmesan cheese. Top with the remaining mozzarella cheese.
  11. Cover the lasagna with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes.
  12. Remove the foil and bake uncovered for an additional 30 minutes, or until the lasagna is bubbly and golden. Let the lasagna stand for 15 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • Meat substitutions: Swap Italian sausage for ground turkey or turkey sausage for a lighter option.
  • Cheese choices: Use shredded mozzarella cheese instead of slices if more convenient.
  • Vegetarian option: Replace the sausage with sautéed vegetables like mushrooms, spinach, or zucchini.
  • Spice it up: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the meat sauce for an extra kick.
  • Storage: Refrigerate leftovers for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat by baking at 350ºF for 30-40 minutes if frozen or 20-25 minutes if refrigerated.
  • Can be prepared ahead by assembling up to Step 7, refrigerating, and baking later.

Nutrition

Find it online: http://recipesbyjanet.com/million-dollar-lasagna/