World’s Best Lasagna

Here’s a classic, beloved favorite: The World’s Best Lasagna — rich meat sauce, creamy layers of cheese, and perfectly cooked noodles. This is comfort food at its finest and worth every step!

🇮🇹 World’s Best Lasagna Recipe

Ingredients:

Meat Sauce:

• 1 lb ground beef

• 1/2 lb Italian sausage (mild or hot)

• 1 small onion, chopped

• 2–3 garlic cloves, minced

• 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes

• 2 (6 oz) cans tomato paste

• 2 tbsp tomato sauce or water (if needed to thin)

• 2 tbsp sugar

• 1 tsp dried basil

• 1/2 tsp fennel seeds (optional)

• 1 tsp Italian seasoning

• Salt & pepper, to taste

• 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

Cheese Mixture:

• 15 oz ricotta cheese

• 1 egg

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 2 tbsp parsley

• 3/4 cup grated Parmesan

Noodles & Other:

• 9 lasagna noodles (boiled or no-boil style)

• 3–4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

• Extra Parmesan for topping

🧑‍🍳 Instructions:

1. Make the meat sauce:

   • In a large skillet or pot, cook ground beef, sausage, and onion over medium heat until browned. Drain fat.

   • Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute.

   • Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, basil, fennel, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and parsley.

   • Simmer 30–45 minutes, stirring occasionally. The longer it simmers, the richer the flavor.

2. Mix the ricotta filling:

   • In a bowl, combine ricotta, egg, salt, parsley, and Parmesan. Stir until smooth.

3. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).

4. Assemble the lasagna (in a 9×13-inch baking dish):

   • Spread 1 cup of meat sauce on the bottom.

   • Add 3 noodles.

   • Spread 1/3 of the ricotta mixture.

   • Sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella.

   • Repeat layers (sauce, noodles, ricotta, mozzarella) two more times.

   • Top final layer with remaining meat sauce, mozzarella, and Parmesan.

5. Cover with foil (to prevent sticking, spray the foil with nonstick spray).

6. Bake covered for 25 minutes, then uncover and bake an additional 20–25 minutes, until bubbly and golden on top.

7. Let rest for 15–20 minutes before slicing. This helps it set.

🥗 Serving Suggestions:

• Garlic bread

• Caesar salad

• A glass of red wine like Chianti or Zinfandel