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Lasagna

a casserole dish is sitting on a stove top
a casserole dish is sitting on a stove top

  • Prep: 30 mins

  • Cook: 2 hrs 30 mins

  • Total: 3 hrs

  • Servings: 12

Ingredients

The Meat Sauce:

  • 1 lb sweet Italian sausage

  • ¾ lb lean ground beef

  • ½ cup minced onion

  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed

  • 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes

  • 2 (6 oz) cans tomato paste

  • 2 (6.5 oz) cans canned tomato sauce

  • ½ cup water

  • 2 tbsp white sugar

  • 1 ½ tsp dried basil leaves

  • ½ tsp fennel seeds

  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning

  • 1 tbsp salt

  • ¼ tsp ground black pepper

  • 4 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

The Layers:

  • 12 lasagna noodles

  • 16 oz ricotta cheese

  • 1 egg

  • ½ tsp salt

  • ¾ lb mozzarella cheese, sliced or shredded

  • ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

  1. Make the Sauce: In a large Dutch oven, cook sausage, ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat until well browned. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and water. Season with sugar, basil, fennel seeds, Italian seasoning, 1 tbsp salt, pepper, and 2 tbsp parsley. Simmer, covered, for about 1 ½ hours, stirring occasionally.

  2. Boil Noodles: Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook lasagna noodles in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes. Drain noodles, and rinse with cold water.

  3. Prepare Cheese Filling: In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese with egg, remaining parsley, and ½ tsp salt.

  4. Assemble: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). To assemble, spread 1 ½ cups of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish. Arrange 6 noodles lengthwise over meat sauce. Spread with one-half of the ricotta cheese mixture. Top with a third of mozzarella cheese slices. Spoon 1 ½ cups meat sauce over mozzarella, and sprinkle with ¼ cup Parmesan cheese. Repeat layers, and top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.

  5. Bake: Cover with foil (spray the foil with cooking spray so it doesn't stick to the cheese). Bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil, and bake an additional 25 minutes.

  6. Rest: Let lasagna rest for 15 minutes before serving. This is crucial for clean slices!

Estimated Nutritional Information

Per Serving (1 slice based on 12 servings)

NutrientAmount % Daily Value*

Calories. 448 kcal. Total Fat 21g 27%. Saturated Fat10g 50% Cholesterol 82mg 27%

Sodium 1,450mg 63% Total Carbohydrates 36g 13% Dietary Fiber 4g 14% Sugars 8g- Protein 29g 58%