The Very Best Lasagna Recipe

Our Favorite Lasagna Recipe

Lasagna tops my list when it comes to comfort food. It screams cozy, hearty food!

Surprisingly, in my decade of recipe sharing, I’ve never shared a traditional lasagna recipe until now. Through years of tweaking, I’ve finally landed on my version of the perfect Lasagna: it’s manageable to prepare yet brimming with rich flavors, varied textures, and loads of cheesy goodness. This is my favorite Lasagna Recipe ever!

What To Expect From This Lasagna Recipe

Admittedly, this Lasagna Recipe requires some time and effort, which is fairly typical for a homemade lasagna. But once you’ve had a slice of this, you might not be able to enjoy lasagna any other way! 

My Secrets To The Best Lasagna Recipe

1. Prep the meat sauce in advance: Whenever I whip up Lasagna, I always prepare the meat sauce a day prior. This not only makes the assembly process so much easier the next day, but also enriches the sauce – it becomes thicker, more tender, and the flavors intensify beautifully. It’s no old wive’s tale that reheating some foods enhances their flavor–and this is one of those foods!
2. Blend of meats: Combining both sausage and beef in Lasagna ensures a balanced, savory meat layer.
3. Kick it off with mirepoix: Mirepoix, the trio of onion, carrot, and celery, adds an incredible depth of flavor. Sautéing it in olive oil and the residual meat drippings provides the tomato sauce with a rich foundation.
4. Embrace tomato paste: Don’t let the hefty dose of tomato paste deter you; it guarantees a rich sauce with a hearty tomato flavor.

How to Make Our Lasagna Recipe

• Pasta: Make sure to cook the pasta al dente to avoid sogginess. Remember, the pasta will cook more as the Lasagna bakes.
• Cheese quality: Grating your own mozzarella and Parmesan (from a block) ensures better melting in this Lasagna Recipe. Pre-shredded varieties often contain anti-caking agents that cause clumps.
• Rest before serving: Letting the Lasagna rest for about 10 minutes after baking helps it set, making slicing easier and allowing flavors to meld further.

QUICK TIP

What does al dente mean? “Al dente” is an Italian term meaning “to the tooth,” used to describe pasta cooked firm, not soft, with a slight bite.

Lasagna Recipe Ingredients

• Meat: This Lasagna Recipe is filled with both sweet Italian sausage and ground beef. This ensures a balanced, savory meat layer.
• Garlic: Amplifying the dish’s depth, garlic infuses a burst of aromatic flavor.
• Tomato products: The recipe harnesses the rich profiles of crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, and a concentrated hit from tomato paste.
• Spices and seasonings: Elevate your lasagna with a medley of our favorite handpicked spices and seasonings.
• Lasagna: The pasta forms the essential layers! 
• Cheeses: A trio of Parmesan, mozzarella, and ricotta bestows a creamy, decadent richness.
• Egg: Integral to structure, the egg ensures the cheese layer remains cohesive, avoiding any messy spills.

How Long to Cook Lasagna

1. Bake covered with foil for 25 minutes.
2. Uncover and bake an additional 25 minutes for a golden top.
3. Rest for 10-15 minutes before serving.

Ensure the center reaches 165°F (74°C). Total bake time for this Lasagna Recipe is roughly 50 minutes, but can vary.

What To Serve With Lasagna

• Bruschetta: Toasted bread topped with tomatoes, garlic, basil, and olive oil. The perfect appetizer!
• Bread: Pair with classic garlic bread, soft dinner rolls, or the olive oil-rich Focaccia.
• Salad: A Caesar salad offers a crisp counterbalance — just don’t forget the crunchy croutons! An Italian or Garden salad also make a great sides
• Roasted Vegetables: Enhance the meal with greens such as roasted Brussels sprouts, asparagus, or carrots.
• Desserts: Round off with an authentic Italian Tiramisu or, for warmer days, a scoop of Gelato.

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Lasagna Recipe

5 from 1 vote

- Review this recipe

You've got to try this Lasagna Recipe, layered with a flavorful tomato sauce, sweet Italian sausage, ground beef, tender pasta, and a melt-in-your-mouth cheese blend

SAVE TO RECIPE BOX

Print Recipe

Lasagna Recipe

5 from 1 vote

- Review this recipe

SAVE TO RECIPE BOX

Print Recipe

You've got to try this Lasagna Recipe, layered with a flavorful tomato sauce, sweet Italian sausage, ground beef, tender pasta, and a melt-in-your-mouth cheese blend

Course Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword lasagna, lasagna recipe

Prep Time 2 hours hours

Cook Time 50 minutes minutes

Resting Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 3 hours hours

Servings 12 servings

Chelsea Lords

Calories 410kcal

Author Chelsea Lords

Cost $24.98

Equipment

• 9x13-inch pan plus cooking spray

Ingredients

Meat Sauce

• ▢ 3 tablespoons olive oil, separated
• ▢ 1 lb each: ground beef & Italian sausage (Note 1)
• ▢ Fine sea salt & pepper
• ▢ 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• ▢ 3 cups finely chopped mirepoix (onion, celery, carrot -- Note 2)
• ▢ 12 oz tomato paste (2, 6 oz cans)
• ▢ 28 oz crushed tomatoes
• ▢ 15 oz tomato sauce
• ▢ 1 teaspoon each: Italian seasoning, dried basil
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon each: dried thyme, dried oregano
• ▢ 2 teaspoons each: beef bouillon powder, Worcestershire sauce (Note 3)
• ▢ 2 bay leaves
• ▢ Optional: 1-2 tsp white sugar (if needed)

Cheese

• ▢ 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley, optional
• ▢ 15-16 oz. ricotta cheese (full-fat)
• ▢ 1 large egg
• ▢ 3/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese (Note 4)

Lasagna:

• ▢ 12 lasagna noodles
• ▢ 3 cups (12 oz) freshly grated mozzarella cheese, separated
• ▢ Optional: 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, fresh parsley for garnish

US - Metric

USMetric

Instructions

• COOK MEAT: In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, heat 1.5 tbsp of oil over high heat. Add beef and sausage in a single layer. Allow to sear, then break it up as it browns. Season (I add 1/2 tsp salt & 1/4 tsp pepper) while browning. Remove browned meat with a slotted spoon and set aside.

  We do not drain off the grease in this recipe, but you can if you'd like leaving 1-2 tbsp for sautéing the veggies.
  
• VEGGIES: In the same pot, heat the remaining 1.5 tbsp of oil over medium-low heat. Add the garlic, onion, carrot, & celery. Season (I add 1/2 tsp salt & 1/4 tsp pepper). Sauté for 8-10 minutes until onion is translucent. Add garlic and sauté for an additional 1 minute.
• MEAT SAUCE: To the pot, add the remaining "meat sauce" ingredients along with 1/2 cup water. Stir to combine. Return the browned meat to the pot. Increase the heat to bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce to the lowest setting. Cover and let it simmer for 1.5 to 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Ensure the lid is replaced promptly after stirring. (See Note 5 for make-ahead option).
  
• PREP OVEN: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and generously grease a 9x13-inch ceramic or glass baking dish.
• CHEESE & PASTA: In a separate bowl, mix together the ingredients listed under "Cheese Mixture". Season to taste (I add 1/2 tsp salt) and mix well. Boil the pasta according to package directions. Drain noodles and lay out on parchment paper.
  
• ASSEMBLE: Spread 1 cup of the meat sauce in prepared dish. Top with 3 lasagna noodles. Spread with 1/3 of the cheese mixture. Sprinkle 1 cup mozzarella cheese on top and one more cup of meat sauce. Repeat these layers twice more. Finish with 3 noodles topped with any remaining sauce and the optional 1/4 cup Parmesan.
  
• BAKING: Cover the lasagna with aluminum foil. To prevent the cheese from sticking, spray the inner side of the foil with cooking spray. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 25 minutes. Allow the lasagna to rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Video

Recipe Notes

Note 1: Meats: We use 93/7 lean ground beef and a good sweet Italian sausage -- delicious combo! If you'd like some heat use spicy Italian sausage.

Note 2: Mirepoix: Use a food processor to quickly chop equal amounts of onion, carrot, and celery or you can buy this mix labeled "mirepoix" (already prepped onion, celery, carrots) at a lot of stores in the produce section or frozen vegetable section of the store.

Note 3: Beef Bouillon Powder & Worcestershire Sauce: These are the "secret" ingredients to unlocking loads of flavor. 

Note 4: Parmesan: Don't use Parmesan from the can, it doesn't melt well and will be too salty. Use fresh finely grated Parmesan instead!

Note 5: Make Ahead: I like making this meat sauce the night before then refrigerating and reheating on the stovetop the next day--wonderful flavor and breaks up work!

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 410kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 36.1g | Fat: 12.4g | Cholesterol: 82.3mg | Sodium: 540.4mg | Fiber: 6.8g | Sugar: 10.1g

We do our best to provide accurate nutritional analysis for our recipes. Our nutritional data is calculated using a third-party algorithm and may vary, based on individual cooking styles, measurements, and ingredient sizes. Please use this information for comparison purposes and consult a health professional for nutrition guidance as needed.

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