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How to Make THE BEST Lasagna Recipe

This meaty lasagna recipe with ricotta, cottage cheese, and fresh mozzarella is made even easier thanks to the no-boil noodles, easily making this the best lasagna recipe. 
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Prep Time 50 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings 12
Calories 622kcal

Ingredients

  • For the meat sauce:
  • 1 pound mild Italian pork sausage
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 teapoon fennel seeds
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 3 cloves garlic pressed or minced
  • 1 medium yellow onion chopped
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • cup white wine
  • 6 ounces tomato paste
  • 24 ounces crushed tomatoes
  • 15 ounces tomato sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • For the lasagna:
  • 16 ounces no-boil lasagna noodles
  • 15 ounces ricotta cheese
  • 15 ounces cottage cheese
  • ¼ cup chopped Italian parsley
  • ½ cup parmesan cheese
  • 16 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese sliced

Instructions

  • Make the Meat Sauce:
  • In a large pot or dutch oven, add the sausage and ground beef. Crush the fennel seeds between your fingers and sprinkle with the red pepper flakes over the meats. Break up the meat with a wooden spoon and cook on medium-high until browned. Add the onion, garlic, and salt and cook for 3-4 minutes or until the onion becomes translucent.
  • Add the white wine and cook until the wine is absorbed, scraping the browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1-2 minutes to lose its raw flavor and add umami depth. Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, oregano, and kosher salt, bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer and cook for 30-40 minutes or until the sauce is reduced by a quarter.
  • Make the Lasagna:
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Spoon 1 cup of sauce into the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish or lasagna pan. Add a single layer of three uncooked lasagna noodles. Mix the ricotta and cottage cheese in a large bowl with the parsley. Spread 1 ½ cups or so of the cheese mixture over the noodles, then evenly top with about 1 ½ cups of the sauce. Sprinkle with some of the Parmesan cheese. Repeat with two more layers of noodles, the cheese mixture, sauce, and Parmesan, using up all of the cheese mixture but reserving 2 cups of the sauce for topping the fourth and last layer of noodles. Top the sauce with slices of fresh mozzarella and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and more chopped parsley if desired.
  • Spray cooking spray over one side of foil before using it to cover the baking dish so the cheese doesn't stick as it bakes. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until bubbly and the noodles are tender. Remove the foil and bake for another 10 minutes so the cheese begins to brown.
  • Remove from the oven and allow the lasagna to rest for at least 10-15 minutes before cutting. Add extra Parmesan and parsley for serving.

Notes

Lasagna can be prepared ahead of baking and refrigerated for up to 3 days.