Ultimate Meaty Three-Cheese Lasagna

Absolutely! Let’s delve deep into the details of your “Absolute Best Ever Lasagna” recipe. This hearty dish is sure to impress with its robust flavors and comforting layers of meat, cheese, and perfectly cooked noodles.

Recipe Overview:

• Name: Absolute Best Ever Lasagna
• Cook Time: 1 hour
• Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
• Description: A family favorite, featuring a rich and meaty sauce layered with creamy ricotta cheese and gooey mozzarella.
• Recipe Category: Cheese
• Keywords: Meat, European, Weeknight, Oven, Less than 4 Hours
• Servings: 12
• Calories per Serving: 540.5
• Aggregated Rating: 5 (from 612 reviews)

Ingredients:

• Meat Mixture:

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  • 1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef
  • 1/2 lb Italian sausage
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 2-3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tsp salt
  • Fresh coarse ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 tsp dried parsley flakes
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1 (28 oz) can whole tomatoes
  • 1 (6 oz) can tomato paste

• Cheese Mixture:

  • 1 (15 oz) container ricotta cheese
  • 2 eggs
  • Pepper, to taste
  • 2 tbsp chopped parsley
  • 1/2 lb grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 lbs shredded mozzarella cheese (divided)

• Other:

  • 12-15 lasagna noodles, cooked and drained

Nutrition Information per Serving:

• Calories: 540.5
• Fat: 29.6g
  • Saturated Fat: 15.1g
• Cholesterol: 142.3mg
• Sodium: 1054.7mg
• Carbohydrates: 30.9g
  • Fiber: 3.3g
  • Sugars: 7.4g
• Protein: 37.8g

Recipe Instructions:

1. Prepare Meat Sauce:

   • In a large skillet or Dutch oven, brown the ground beef and Italian sausage over medium-high heat until fully cooked and crumbled.
   • Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the meat mixture. Cook until the onion is translucent and garlic is fragrant.

2. Season and Simmer:

   • Stir in salt, pepper, dried parsley flakes, oregano, and basil. Mix well.
   • Add the whole tomatoes with their juice and tomato paste. Stir until everything is well combined.
   • Cover and simmer the sauce for at least 1 hour, stirring occasionally. This helps meld the flavors together. Be mindful not to let it dry out too much; add a splash of water if needed.

3. Prepare Cheese Mixture:

   • In a separate bowl, combine ricotta cheese, eggs, pepper, chopped parsley, Parmesan cheese, and half of the shredded mozzarella cheese. Mix until smooth and well incorporated.

4. Cook Lasagna Noodles:

   • Cook the lasagna noodles according to the package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.

5. Assemble the Lasagna:

   • Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 13×9-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
   • To assemble, spread a thin layer of the meat sauce on the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
   • Layer with lasagna noodles, overlapping slightly. Spread half of the cheese mixture evenly over the noodles.
   • Spoon half of the remaining meat sauce over the cheese mixture.
   • Repeat the layers: noodles, cheese mixture, meat sauce. Finish with a final layer of noodles.

6. Bake:

   • Sprinkle the remaining shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top layer of noodles, ensuring they are completely covered.
   • Cover the dish loosely with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 40-60 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. For the last 15-20 minutes of baking, uncover the lasagna to allow the cheese to lightly brown.

7. Rest and Serve:

   • Remove the lasagna from the oven and let it rest for 15-20 minutes before slicing and serving. This allows the lasagna to set and makes it easier to serve neat portions.

Tips and Variations:

• Substitute for Ricotta: If you prefer, you can substitute ricotta cheese with cottage cheese for a slightly different texture.
• Make Ahead: Lasagna is great for making ahead. You can assemble it up to a day in advance and refrigerate until ready to bake. Just increase the baking time slightly if baking from cold.
• Freezing: Lasagna also freezes well. Wrap tightly in foil and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking as usual.

Conclusion:

This “Absolute Best Ever Lasagna” recipe combines the richness of meat, the creaminess of cheese, and the comforting satisfaction of well-cooked noodles into a dish that’s perfect for family gatherings or weeknight dinners. With its high rating and rave reviews, it’s sure to become a staple in your recipe collection. Enjoy creating this delicious masterpiece in your own kitchen!