Description
Hearty homemade lasagna delivers Italian comfort straight to dinner tables with layers of rich meat sauce and melted cheese. Perfectly seasoned noodles and savory ingredients promise a delightful meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 pound Italian sausage, loose packed or casings removed (5 sausages)
Cheese and Filling:
- 2 cups (450 grams) ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry (100 grams)
- 1/4 cup cream
- 1 egg
Sauce and Seasonings:
- 3.5 cups jarred tomato pasta sauce (about 1.5 jars)
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 onion, finely diced
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1.5 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 12 oven ready lasagna noodles
Instructions
- Sauté ground beef, Italian sausage, onion, and garlic in a large skillet over medium heat until meat browns and loses its raw appearance.
- Drain excess fat from the meat mixture, then incorporate salt, Italian seasoning, tomato pasta sauce, and water. Allow the sauce to simmer and develop flavors for approximately 10 minutes.
- Prepare the cheese mixture by combining Ricotta cheese, chopped spinach, cream, beaten egg, and grated Parmesan cheese in a separate mixing bowl.
- Adjust oven temperature to 375F (190C) to ensure proper preheating.
- Create the first layer in a 9×13 inch baking dish by spreading a thin coat of meat sauce across the bottom to prevent sticking.
- Arrange lasagna noodles to cover the sauce completely, ensuring minimal gaps between noodles.
- Generously spread the Ricotta cheese mixture over the noodle layer, creating an even distribution.
- Sprinkle a substantial layer of Mozzarella cheese on top of the Ricotta mixture.
- Repeat layering process – meat sauce, noodles, Ricotta mixture, and Mozzarella cheese – until all ingredients are utilized.
- Ensure the final layer is topped with Mozzarella cheese for a golden, melted finish.
- Carefully cover the baking dish with aluminum foil to prevent excessive browning.
- Bake covered for 25 minutes, then remove foil and continue baking for an additional 25 minutes until the top becomes golden and edges are bubbly.
- Remove from oven and allow lasagna to rest for 10 minutes, which helps set the layers and makes serving easier.
Notes
- Enhance meat flavor by using a blend of ground beef and sausage for deeper, richer taste profiles.
- Drain excess grease thoroughly to prevent a greasy, heavy lasagna and ensure a lighter texture.
- Substitute ricotta with cottage cheese for a lower-fat alternative that maintains creamy consistency.
- Prepare lasagna ahead of time and refrigerate overnight to allow flavors to meld and intensify, creating a more delicious dish.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 950mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 34g
- Cholesterol: 120mg