World's Best Lasagna ​
Servings: 6
Ingredients
  • 1/2 pound sweet Italian sausage
  • 6 ounces lean ground beef
  • 1 tablespoon garlic, crushed
  • 1/2 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
  • 1/4 cup minced onions
  • 1 (6.5 ounce) cans canned tomato sauce
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon white sugar
  • 3/4 teaspoon dried basil leaves
  • 1/4 teaspoon fennel seeds
  • 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt, divided, or to taste
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 6 lasagna noodles
  • 1/2 pound ricotta cheese
  • 1/2 egg
  • 6 ounces mozzarella cheese, sliced
  • 6 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
Step 1 In a Dutch oven, cook sausage, ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat until well browned. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and water. Season with sugar, basil, fennel seeds, Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon salt, pepper, and 2 tablespoons parsley. Simmer, covered, for approximately 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
Step 2 Bring a sizable pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook lasagna noodles in boiling water for 8 to ten minutes. Drain noodles, and rinse with cool water. In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese with egg, remaining parsley, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
Step 3 Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Step 4 To put together, spread 1 1/2 cups of meat sauce in underneath of a 9x13-inch baking dish. Arrange 6 noodles lengthwise over meat sauce. Spread with half of the ricotta cheese mixture. Top with a third of mozzarella cheese slices. Spoon 1 1/2 cups meat sauce over mozzarella, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Repeat layers, and top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil: to avoid sticking, either spray foil with cooking spray, or make certain the foil will not touch the cheese.
Step 5 Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil, and bake yet another 25 minutes. Cool for a quarter-hour before serving.