The Best Lasagna Recipe Ever

This is hands down the Best Lasagna Recipe ever! Easy, cheesy, meaty and so so delicious! Layer up the hearty meat sauce, different cheeses and lasagna pasta and then bake until hot and bubbly.

Course Dinner

Cuisine Italian

Keyword best lasagna, classic lasagna, italian dinner, italian lasagna, lasagna, lasagna recipe, pasta

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 3 hours

Cooling time 20 minutes

Total Time 3 hours 40 minutes

Servings servings

Calories 359kcal

Author Lauren's Latest

Ingredients

For the meat sauce:

3 tablespoons olive oil
1 yellow onion diced
2 cloves garlic minced
1 pound ground beef 93/7
1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
2 15 oz cans tomato sauce
1 cup water
3 bay leaves
1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
2 teaspoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
2 teaspoons salt or to taste

For the cheese layer:

1/2 pound mozzarella cheese grated
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 cups whole milk ricotta cheese
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
salt & pepper to taste

Remaining ingredients:

1 pound lasagna noodles
1/4 pound mozzarella cheese grated, for topping

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Make the Meat Sauce

In a large heavy-bottomed pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add in onion and saute 2-3 minutes. Add in garlic and ground beef. Break meat apart as it browns. Once meat has browned completely, pour in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, water, bay leaves, dried basil, sugar, Italian Seasoning and salt. Bring to boil, then reduce heat to simmer. Cook sauce 1-2 hours or until very thick. You may have to add a little extra water as it reduces down to prevent scorching. This is normal.

Make the Cheese Filling

While meat sauce cooks, make the cheese layer: stir cheeses together in a bowl with basil, parsley and salt & pepper. Set aside.
Cook lasagna noodles 2/3 of the time marked on the package. About 7 minutes or so. Drain and place noodles in a large bowl of cold water.

Layering the Lasagna

Spread 1/2 cup prepared sauce in the bottom of a lightly greased 9x13 baking dish. Layer in 5-6 noodles across the bottom to completely cover. Spread half of the cheese mixture overtop of the noodles and then one third of the sauce. Top with another layer of noodles, the second half of the cheese mixture and another third of the sauce. Final layer is the last of the noodles and the last of the meat sauce. Sprinkle with 1/4 lb. grated mozzarella cheese. So real quick, here is the order of the layers:
Meat Sauce (just a little so the noodles don't stick to the bottom)
Noodles
Cheese Filling
Meat Sauce
Noodles
Cheese Filling
Meat Sauce
Noodles
Meat Sauce
Mozzarella Cheese
To bake: preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cover lasagna with greased foil. Bake 45 minutes with foil on. Remove foil and bake another 15 minutes or until cheese has browned and everything it hot all the way through. Remove from oven, cover lightly with foil and rest 20-30 minutes before cutting and serving. Sprinkle with dried parsley flakes, cut into squares and serve.

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