Million Dollar Lasagna – Better Than Takeout

Million Dollar Lasagna is the ultimate comfort food. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the trick to a perfectly creamy, hearty lasagna every time. The golden cheese edges and rich meat sauce layers will make your family beg for this better-than-takeout dinner. Jump to the recipe card or keep reading for my best tips, including how to prevent soggy lasagna. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy No Bake Rhubarb Cheesecake Squares | Cheesecake Dessert and Irresistibly Creamy Smothered Chicken and Rice Recipe Tonight.

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.

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 lb lasagna noodles
• 15 oz ricotta cheese
• 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Optional: Fresh basil, chopped
• Optional: Red pepper flakes

How to Make Million Dollar Lasagna – Better Than Takeout

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook ground beef, onion, and garlic in a large skillet over medium heat until browned. Drain fat.
2. Step 2: Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 15 minutes.
3. Step 3: Cook lasagna noodles according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
4. Step 4: Spread a thin layer of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish. Arrange a layer of lasagna noodles, followed by a layer of ricotta cheese, a layer of mozzarella cheese, and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. Repeat layers until all ingredients are used up, ending with a layer of mozzarella cheese.
5. Step 5: 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.
6. Step 6: Let lasagna rest for 10 minutes before serving. Top with fresh basil and red pepper flakes, if desired.

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 in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Make-ahead tip: You can assemble the lasagna up to 24 hours ahead of time. Store in the refrigerator until ready to bake.

Freezing Million Dollar Lasagna – Better Than Takeout

Freeze individual portions for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

How to Reheat Without Drying It Out

Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, or until heated through. Add a little water to prevent drying out.

Recipe Notes

• Chef tip: For an extra layer of flavor, brown the ground beef in a small amount of olive oil before adding the onions and garlic.
• Best substitution: If you don't have ricotta cheese, you can substitute cottage cheese or a combination of sour cream and cream cheese.
• Make-ahead: Million Dollar Lasagna is perfect for meal prepping. Assemble the lasagna and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking. You can also freeze individual portions for up to 3 months.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to suit your needs.
• Troubleshooting: If your lasagna is still not cooked through after 30 minutes, cover it with foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes. If it's browning too quickly, cover it with foil to prevent burning.

Million Dollar Lasagna – Better Than Takeout

⏱

Prep

30 mins

🍳

Cook

45 mins

⏳

Total

1 hr 15 mins

🍽

Serves

6-8 servings

🥗

Diet

Gluten-free

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 lb lasagna noodles
• 15 oz ricotta cheese
• 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Seasonings

• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Optional Toppings

• Fresh basil, chopped
• Red pepper flakes

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook ground beef, onion, and garlic in a large skillet over medium heat until browned. Drain fat.
2. Step 2: Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 15 minutes.
3. Step 3: Cook lasagna noodles according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
4. Step 4: Spread a thin layer of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish. Arrange a layer of lasagna noodles, followed by a layer of ricotta cheese, a layer of mozzarella cheese, and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. Repeat layers until all ingredients are used up, ending with a layer of mozzarella cheese.
5. Step 5: 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.
6. Step 6: Let lasagna rest for 10 minutes before serving. Top with fresh basil and red pepper flakes, if desired.

Notes

• Chef tip: For an extra layer of flavor, brown the ground beef in a small amount of olive oil before adding the onions and garlic.
• Best substitution: If you don't have ricotta cheese, you can substitute cottage cheese or a combination of sour cream and cream cheese.
• Make-ahead: Million Dollar Lasagna is perfect for meal prepping. Assemble the lasagna and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking. You can also freeze individual portions for up to 3 months.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to suit your needs.
• Troubleshooting: If your lasagna is still not cooked through after 30 minutes, cover it with foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes. If it's browning too quickly, cover it with foil to prevent burning.

Storage

• Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
• Freezer: Freeze individual portions for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
• Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through.
• Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, or until heated through. Add a little water to prevent drying out.
• Make ahead: You can assemble the lasagna up to 24 hours ahead of time. Store in the refrigerator until ready to bake.

Nutrition Per Serving

• Calories: 470
• Protein: 30g
• Fat: 22g
• Carbs: 45g
• Fiber: 3g
• Sugar: 6g
• Sodium: 900mg
• Cholesterol: 110mg
• Sat. Fat: 12g

Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.

Million Dollar Lasagna – Better Than Takeout FAQs

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!