Million Dollar Italian Lasagna

Ingredients:

Meat Sauce:

1 lb ground beef

1/2 lb Italian sausage

1 small onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce

2 tbsp tomato paste

1 tsp Italian seasoning

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

Salt & pepper to taste

Cheese Layer:

1 container (15 oz) ricotta cheese

1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup sour cream

1 large egg

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (divided)

1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

Other:

12 lasagna noodles, cooked al dente

Extra mozzarella and Parmesan for topping

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).

Cook meat sauce: In a skillet, brown ground beef, sausage, and onion. Drain excess fat. Add garlic, tomato paste, marinara, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Simmer 10 minutes.

Mix cheese filling: In a bowl, combine ricotta, cream cheese, sour cream, egg, Parmesan, 1 cup mozzarella, and parsley. Stir until creamy.

Assemble: Spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom of a greased 9×13 dish. Layer noodles, cheese mixture, meat sauce, and mozzarella. Repeat layers until ingredients are used, finishing with sauce and cheese on top.

Bake covered with foil for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 15–20 minutes until bubbly and golden.

Rest & serve: Let sit 10 minutes before slicing. Garnish with parsley.