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A freshly baked lasagna with melted cheese and rich sauce

Proven way to grow 5-Star Lasagna

This lasagna recipe delivers a rich, flavorful, and satisfying meal with layers of pasta, meat sauce, and creamy cheese.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 400
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Meat Sauce
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 medium onion
  • 2 cloves garlic cloves
  • 28 oz crushed tomatoes
  • 6 oz tomato paste
  • 0.5 cup water
  • 2 tsp sugar
  • 1.5 tsp dried basil
  • 0.5 tsp fennel seeds
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper
Cheese Mixture
  • 15 oz ricotta cheese
  • 1 egg
  • 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese
Other
  • 12 lasagna noodles oven-ready
  • 1 lb mozzarella cheese shredded

Equipment

  • large skillet
  • 9x13 inch baking dish
  • aluminum foil

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Cook ground beef, onion, and garlic in a large skillet until the meat is browned; drain excess fat.
  2. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, water, sugar, basil, fennel seeds, salt, and pepper.
  3. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  4. In a separate bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg, and Parmesan cheese.
Assembly
  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and spread a thin layer of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.
  2. Arrange a single layer of lasagna noodles over the sauce, then spread half of the ricotta cheese mixture over the noodles.
  3. Top with a layer of meat sauce and a third of the shredded mozzarella cheese.
  4. Repeat the noodle, ricotta, sauce, and mozzarella layers once more.
  5. Place a final layer of noodles, cover with the remaining meat sauce, and sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella cheese.
Baking
  1. Cover the baking dish loosely with aluminum foil.
  2. Bake for 25 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for an additional 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown and bubbly.
  3. Let the lasagna stand for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

For a richer flavor, consider using a combination of ground beef and Italian sausage. If you prefer a less sweet sauce, reduce the amount of sugar or omit it entirely. Leftover lasagna can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days or frozen for up to 3 months. Reheat in the oven or microwave.