Ultimate Meaty Lasagna

Meaty Lasagna Recipe

🕒 Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes

🥘 Recipe Category: Cheese

🔑 Keywords: Meat, Weeknight, < 4 Hours

🍽️ Recipe Yield: 12-15 Squares of Lasagna

📝 Description: Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with this hearty and flavorful Meaty Lasagna recipe from lovewithrecipes.com. Layers of rich meat sauce, creamy ricotta cheese, and gooey mozzarella come together to create a dish that’s perfect for family dinners or entertaining guests.

🛒 Ingredients:

🔪 Instructions:

1. Prepare Meat Sauce:

   • In a large skillet, fry the ground beef and bulk sausage together until fully cooked.
   • Do not drain the excess fat.
   • Stir in tomato paste and Italian-style tomato sauce.
   • Add minced garlic, beef bouillon cubes, and bay leaves.
   • Simmer for about 45 minutes to an hour, stirring occasionally.
   • Skim off any excess grease/fat that accumulates on the surface.

2. Prepare Lasagna Noodles:

   • While the meat sauce is simmering, cook the lasagna noodles according to the package instructions.
   • Once cooked, drain and set aside.

3. Preheat Oven:

   • Preheat your oven to 425°F (218°C).

4. Assemble the Lasagna:

   • Before using the meat sauce, remove the bay leaves.
   • In a large lasagna pan, begin layering with a scoop of meat sauce at the bottom.
   • Place a layer of cooked lasagna noodles on top of the sauce.
   • Spread a generous amount of ricotta cheese (or cottage cheese) over the noodles.
   • Sprinkle with a layer of mozzarella cheese.
   • Repeat the layers, alternating between meat sauce, noodles, ricotta cheese, and mozzarella cheese, until all ingredients are used, finishing with a final layer of mozzarella cheese on top.

5. Bake the Lasagna:

   • Cover the lasagna with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
   • Optionally, remove the foil during the last few minutes of baking to achieve a golden brown crust on top.

6. Serve and Enjoy:

   • Once baked, remove the lasagna from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before slicing.
   • Serve hot, garnished with fresh basil or parsley if desired.
   • Enjoy the delicious layers of meaty goodness in every bite!

🍽️ Nutritional Information:

• Calories: 574
• Fat Content: 32.5g
  • Saturated Fat Content: 12.8g
• Cholesterol Content: 147.4mg
• Sodium Content: 1327.8mg
• Carbohydrate Content: 24.8g
  • Fiber Content: 3g
  • Sugar Content: 7.5g
• Protein Content: 44.9g

👨‍🍳 Chef’s Tips:

• To make this lasagna ahead of time, assemble the layers in the baking dish, cover tightly with plastic wrap and foil, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking.
• Leftover lasagna can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days or frozen for up to 2-3 months. Reheat in the oven or microwave until heated through.

Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with this hearty and flavorful Meaty Lasagna recipe. Each bite is a perfect balance of savory meat sauce, creamy cheese, and tender noodles, making it a favorite for family dinners and special occasions alike!