Worlds Best Lasagna (Printable)

Layers of tender pasta, savory meat, creamy ricotta, and melted cheese baked to golden perfection. A comforting Italian favorite.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta & Cheese

01 - 12 sheets lasagna noodles, uncooked
02 - 15 oz ricotta cheese
03 - 1 large egg
04 - 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
05 - 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

→ Meat Sauce

06 - 1 lb ground beef, lean recommended
07 - 1 lb Italian sausage, sweet or spicy, casing removed
08 - 4 cups marinara sauce, homemade or store-bought
09 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
10 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
11 - ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped
12 - 1 teaspoon salt
13 - ½ teaspoon black pepper

# Method:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
03 - Add ground beef and Italian sausage. Cook, breaking up the meat, until browned, 8–10 minutes. Drain excess fat.
04 - Stir in marinara sauce, salt, pepper, and chopped basil. Simmer for 10 minutes to blend flavors.
05 - Combine ricotta cheese and egg in a mixing bowl. Mix until smooth.
06 - Spread a layer of meat sauce on the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.
07 - Arrange 4 sheets of uncooked lasagna noodles, slightly overlapping.
08 - Spread half of the ricotta mixture over the noodles, top with a third of the mozzarella, then add meat sauce.
09 - Repeat layers: noodles, remaining ricotta mixture, another third of mozzarella, meat sauce.
10 - Finish with remaining noodles, meat sauce, remaining mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese.
11 - Cover tightly with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
12 - Remove foil and bake an additional 15 minutes until cheese is golden and bubbly.
13 - Let lasagna rest for at least 15 minutes before slicing and serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The combination of two meats creates depth that single meat versions just cant match
  • Leftovers somehow taste even better the next day, if they last that long
02 -
  • Resting time is not optional unless you want a sloppy slide instead of neat layers
  • The noodles absorb liquid while baking, so your sauce should be slightly thinner than normal
03 -
  • Running your knife under hot water between slices creates cleaner cuts
  • Spray the foil before covering so cheese doesnt stick when you remove it
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