Worlds Best Lasagna (Printable)

Layers of pasta, rich meat sauce, ricotta, and bubbly cheese make this Italian classic unforgettable.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta & Cheese

01 - 12 lasagna noodles, uncooked
02 - 15 oz ricotta cheese
03 - 1 large egg
04 - 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
05 - 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

→ Meat Sauce

06 - 1 lb ground beef, lean
07 - 1 lb Italian sausage, casing removed
08 - 4 cups marinara sauce
09 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
10 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
11 - 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
12 - 1 teaspoon salt
13 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

# Directions:

01 - Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
02 - In a large skillet over medium heat, heat olive oil. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, approximately 1 minute.
03 - Add ground beef and Italian sausage to the skillet. Cook while breaking apart the meat until completely browned, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain excess fat from the pan.
04 - Stir in marinara sauce, salt, pepper, and chopped basil. Simmer for 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld together.
05 - In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese and egg. Mix until the mixture reaches a smooth consistency.
06 - Spread a layer of meat sauce on the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.
07 - Arrange 4 sheets of uncooked lasagna noodles over the sauce, slightly overlapping each sheet.
08 - Spread half of the ricotta mixture over the noodles. Top with one-third of the mozzarella cheese, followed by an additional layer of meat sauce.
09 - Layer noodles again, followed by the remaining ricotta mixture, another portion of mozzarella, and more meat sauce.
10 - Finish with the final layer of noodles, remaining meat sauce, and top completely with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
11 - Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes.
12 - Remove foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes until the cheese becomes golden and bubbling.
13 - Allow the lasagna to rest for at least 15 minutes before slicing and serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Every layer holds together when you slice it, no more sliding apart on the plate.
  • The uncooked noodles soak up all the sauce flavor while they bake, saving you a pot of boiling water and a lot of stress.
  • It feeds a crowd without you having to stand over the stove during the party.
  • Leftovers taste even better the next day when all the flavors have had time to marry.
02 -
  • If you skip the resting time, your lasagna will slide apart and look like a beautiful mess on the plate.
  • Make sure your sauce is a little looser than you think it should be, the noodles will soak up a surprising amount as they bake.
  • Press down gently on each noodle layer so they make full contact with the sauce, otherwise they won't cook evenly.
03 -
  • Use a sharp knife dipped in hot water to cut clean slices, wiping it between cuts.
  • If the top starts browning too fast, tent it loosely with foil for the last few minutes.
  • Make the meat sauce a day ahead so the flavors deepen and assembly goes faster.
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