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lasagna in casserole dish cut in 12 slices
best lasagna recipe, easy lasagna recipe, homemade lasagna recipe, how to make lasagna, lasagna recipe

Easy Lasagna Recipe

Prep Time :25 minutes
Cook Time :30 minutes
Total Time :55 minutes
Serves: 12
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Ingredients

Lasagna

  • 12 lasagna noodles
  • 4-5 cups shredded whole milk mozzarella cheese
  • basil for garnish

For the Meat Sauce

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 pound ground Italian sausage
  • 2 shallots minced
  • 5 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 2 - 25 oz jars marinara sauce
  • 2 dried bay leaves
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon salt more to taste
  • 1/2 black pepper more to taste
  • 1/4 crushed red pepper flakes optional

For the Ricotta Filling

  • 15 oz whole-milk ricotta
  • 1/4 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
  • 1 cup grated parmesan
  • 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tsp lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp half-and half heavy cream or milk will also work
  • 2 tablespoon fresh parsley leaves chopped
  • 2 tablespoon fresh basil chopped

Instructions

Make the Sauce

  • Heat a large pot over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the ground sausage and ground beef. Cook, breaking the meat apart as it browns. Halfway during the cooking process, added the minced shallots. When the meat is fully browned, stir in the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. . Sauté for 1-2 minutes, until the garlic is fragrant.
  • Next, add the marinara sauce and bay leaves. Stir to combine, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and let the sauce simmer for 15–20 minutes. After simmering, taste to see if additional seasoning is needed. Then, remove and discard the bay leaves. Remove from heat and set aside.

Make the Ricotta Filling

  • Add the ricotta, black pepper, mozzarella, parmesan, chopped parsley, lemon juice, half-and-half, egg, and chopped basil to a mixing bowl. Stir until well combined.

Boil the Pasta

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the lasagna noodles to the boiling hot water and cook per the box's instructions, stirring occasionally to prevent them from sticking. Remove the noodles from the water and drain.

Assemble the Lasagna

  • Pour about 1 cup of sauce into the bottom of the casserole dish and spread it evenly to coat. Arrange 4 lasagna noodles lengthwise in the dish (it’s okay if the edges overlap slightly). Spread 1/3 of the ricotta mixture over the noodles, then sprinkle with 1 1/4- 1 1/2 cups of mozzarella cheese, followed by about 2 cups of the meat sauce. Note, this doesn't have to be precise. Repeat the process for the second layer. For the third and final layer, skip mozzarella. Instead, add a layer of noodles, spread on the last third of the ricotta mixture, and finish with any remaining meat sauce.
  • Bake covered with foil at 400 degrees for 30-35 minutes until the lasagna is bubbly around the edges. Once done, remove the lasagna from the oven and top with the remaining mozzarella cheese (it should be fully covered with cheese). Return to the oven and broil for 1-5 minutes until the cheese is fully melted and is golden brown.
  • Let the lasagna sit for about 20 minutes and garnish with fresh parsley and basil before serving.

Nutritional Information

Serving: 1 sliceCalories: 569kcal (28%)Carbohydrates: 26g (9%)Protein: 32g (64%)Fat: 37g (57%)Saturated Fat: 17g (106%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 129mg (43%)Sodium: 1063mg (46%)Potassium: 395mg (11%)Fiber: 1g (4%)Sugar: 2g (2%)Vitamin A: 643IU (13%)Vitamin C: 3mg (4%)Calcium: 394mg (39%)Iron: 2mg (11%)