Million Dollar Lasagna – Better Than Takeout
Million Dollar Lasagna is the ultimate comfort food, packed with rich flavors and creamy textures. After making it dozens of times, I’ve discovered the trick to a perfect, restaurant-quality lasagna at home. Keep reading for my best tips, or jump to the recipe card. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Creamy Potato Soup and One Pot Creamy Spinach Tomato Tortellini.
Why This Million Dollar Lasagna – Better Than Takeout Is Pure Comfort
- Loaded with three types of cheese for maximum creaminess
- Easy to customize with your favorite veggies or meats
- Better than takeout and freezes beautifully for meal prep
What You'll Need for 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.
- Ground beef
- Italian sausage
- Ricotta cheese
- Mozzarella cheese
- Parmesan cheese
- Lasagna noodles
- Onion
- Garlic
- Tomato sauce
- Tomato paste
- Oregano
- Basil
- Salt
- Pepper
- Optional: Fresh basil
- Optional: Grated Parmesan cheese
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Ground beef: Use 80/20 ground beef for best flavor.
- Italian sausage: Remove casings for easier cooking.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Non-stick skillet — Prevents meat from sticking and ensures even cooking. → See on Amazon
- Lasagna pan — Ensures even baking and easy serving. → See on Amazon
How to Make Million Dollar Lasagna – Better Than Takeout
- Cook the meat: In a large skillet, cook ground beef and Italian sausage over medium heat until browned. Drain excess fat.
- Prepare the sauce: Add onion, garlic, tomato sauce, tomato paste, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Simmer for 20 minutes.
- Assemble the lasagna: Spread a thin layer of meat sauce in the bottom of a lasagna pan. Layer lasagna noodles, ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, and remaining meat sauce. Repeat layers, ending with cheese on top.
- Bake the lasagna: Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 25-30 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly and golden.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Million Dollar Lasagna – Better Than Takeout
- Common mistake and fix: Don't overcook the lasagna. It will continue to cook in the hot pan after you remove it from the oven. To prevent overcooking, cover the pan with foil for the first 20 minutes of baking.
- Time-saving tip: Use no-boil lasagna noodles to save time and prevent breaking.
- Flavor boost: Add a handful of spinach to the meat sauce for extra nutrition and flavor.
Storing & Reheating 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 5 days. Make-ahead tip: Lasagna can be assembled up to 24 hours in advance. Store in the fridge until ready to bake.
Freezing Million Dollar Lasagna – Better Than Takeout
Freeze assembled lasagna for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight before baking.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 20-25 minutes, or until heated through. Microwave: Reheat individual portions in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, or until heated through.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For an extra layer of flavor, brown the meat in a Dutch oven instead of a skillet.
- Best substitution: Use cottage cheese as a substitute for ricotta cheese.
- Make-ahead: Lasagna can be assembled up to 24 hours in advance. Store in the fridge until ready to bake.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If your lasagna is still watery after baking, place it under the broiler for a few minutes to evaporate excess moisture.
Want to level up this recipe?
Food thermometer — Ensures safe and thorough cooking of the meat. → Check price on Amazon
Million Dollar Lasagna – Better Than Takeout
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Ground beef
- Italian sausage
- Ricotta cheese
- Mozzarella cheese
- Parmesan cheese
- Lasagna noodles
Seasonings
- Onion
- Garlic
- Tomato sauce
- Tomato paste
- Oregano
- Basil
- Salt
- Pepper
Optional Toppings
- Fresh basil
- Grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook the meat: In a large skillet, cook ground beef and Italian sausage over medium heat until browned. Drain excess fat.
- Prepare the sauce: Add onion, garlic, tomato sauce, tomato paste, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Simmer for 20 minutes.
- Assemble the lasagna: Spread a thin layer of meat sauce in the bottom of a lasagna pan. Layer lasagna noodles, ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, and remaining meat sauce. Repeat layers, ending with cheese on top.
- Bake the lasagna: Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 25-30 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly and golden.
Notes
- Chef tip: For an extra layer of flavor, brown the meat in a Dutch oven instead of a skillet.
- Best substitution: Use cottage cheese as a substitute for ricotta cheese.
- Make-ahead: Lasagna can be assembled up to 24 hours in advance. Store in the fridge until ready to bake.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If your lasagna is still watery after baking, place it under the broiler for a few minutes to evaporate excess moisture.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Freezer: Freeze assembled lasagna for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight before baking.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 20-25 minutes, or until heated through.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat individual portions in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, or until heated through.
- Make ahead: Lasagna can be assembled up to 24 hours in advance. Store in the fridge until ready to bake.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 650
- Protein: 35g
- Fat: 35g
- Carbs: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 1200mg
- Cholesterol: 120mg
- Sat. Fat: 18g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Million Dollar Lasagna – Better Than Takeout FAQs
Yes, lasagna can be assembled up to 24 hours in advance. Store in the fridge until ready to bake.
Lasagna can become watery if not cooked long enough or if the lasagna noodles release too much starch. To prevent this, make sure to cook the lasagna until the cheese is bubbly and golden, and consider using no-boil lasagna noodles.
Yes, assembled lasagna can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight before baking.
While you can cook lasagna noodles in the air fryer, the entire lasagna is best cooked in the oven for even baking and proper cheese melting.
Cottage cheese is the best substitute for ricotta cheese in lasagna.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try 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!
