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World’s Best Lasagna Recipe

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This recipe for the world’s best lasagna combines layers of hearty meat sauce made with ground beef and Italian sausage, a creamy ricotta cheese mixture, and perfectly cooked lasagna noodles. The dish is topped with a generous amount of mozzarella and Parmesan, baked to golden perfection. With a rich tomato base, balanced seasoning, and a hint of sweetness from sugar and fennel seeds, this lasagna is sure to be a crowd-pleaser, perfect for any special occasion or family dinner.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Meat Sauce:

  • 1 lb ground beef (450g)
  • 1 lb Italian sausage (450g), casings removed
  • 1 large onion, finely chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
  • 2 cans (6 oz each) tomato paste
  • 2 cans (15 oz each) tomato sauce
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 2 tsp dried basil
  • 1/2 tsp fennel seeds (optional)
  • 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

For the Cheese Mixture:

  • 16 oz ricotta cheese (2 cups)
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
  • 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (divided)
  • 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (divided)

For the Lasagna Assembly:

  • 12 lasagna noodles, cooked or no-boil
  • Remaining 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (for topping)
  • Remaining 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (for topping)
  • Fresh basil, chopped (optional for garnish)

Instructions

  • Meat Sauce: In a large pot, cook ground beef, Italian sausage, onion, and garlic over medium heat until browned. Drain excess fat. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and water. Add sugar, basil, fennel seeds (if using), Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer, uncovered, for 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. Add parsley towards the end of cooking.
  • Cheese Mixture: In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg, parsley, 1 cup of mozzarella, and 1/4 cup of Parmesan. Mix well.
  • Assembly: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Spread 1 1/2 cups of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Place 3 lasagna noodles over the sauce. Spread 1/3 of the ricotta mixture over the noodles. Top with 1/4 of the mozzarella cheese and 1/4 of the Parmesan cheese. Repeat layers twice more. For the final layer, top with the remaining meat sauce, mozzarella, and Parmesan.
  • Bake: Cover with foil (to prevent sticking, you can spray foil with cooking spray) and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 25 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden. Let lasagna cool for 15 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil if desired.

Notes

  • For best results, prepare the meat sauce a day in advance to allow flavors to meld.
  • You can freeze lasagna before baking; thaw in the refrigerator overnight before baking.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://avarecipes.com/worlds-best-lasagna-recipe/