Description
This Million Dollar Creamy Beef Lasagna is a rich, cheesy, and irresistible comfort food classic. Layers of perfectly cooked lasagna noodles alternate with a savory ground beef marinara sauce and a luscious creamy cheese mixture, baked to bubbly golden perfection.
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
Cheese Mixture
- 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 your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Sauté Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the finely diced onion and sauté until it becomes soft and translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute, stirring frequently to release flavors.
- Cook Beef: Add the ground beef to the skillet. Season with salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and paprika. Cook the beef until it is fully browned, breaking it apart as it cooks. Once done, drain any excess fat to keep the sauce from becoming greasy.
- Simmer Sauce: Stir in the marinara sauce with the cooked beef mixture. Reduce heat to low and let it simmer for about 5 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together. Then remove from heat.
- Prepare Cheese Mixture: In a separate bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, softened cream cheese, sour cream, shredded mozzarella, grated Parmesan, and chopped fresh parsley. Mix thoroughly until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Assemble Lasagna: Spread a thin layer of the meat sauce on the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Add a layer of cooked lasagna noodles over the sauce. Spread an even layer of the creamy cheese mixture over the noodles, followed by a generous layer of meat sauce. Repeat these layers until ingredients are used up, finishing with a layer of sauce on top.
- Bake Covered: Cover the lasagna with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. This ensures the dish cooks evenly and stays moist.
- Bake Uncovered: Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, or until the top is bubbly and lightly golden brown.
- Rest and Serve: Let the lasagna rest for 10 minutes after baking to allow it to set. This makes slicing easier and helps the flavors to settle. Serve warm and enjoy your creamy, cheesy beef lasagna.
Notes
- Be sure to cook the lasagna noodles al dente as they will continue to cook in the oven.
- You can prepare this lasagna a day ahead and refrigerate before baking to save time.
- Feel free to substitute ground beef with ground turkey for a leaner option.
- For extra flavor, add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes to the meat sauce if you like some heat.
- Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; reheat thoroughly before serving.
