Ingredients
– 12 lasagna noodles
– 1 pound ground beef
– 1 pound Italian sausage
– 1 onion, chopped
– 2 garlic cloves, minced
– 1 can crushed tomatoes (28 ounces)
– 2 cans tomato paste (6 ounces each)
– 2 tablespoons sugar
– 1 tablespoon dried basil
– 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
– 1 teaspoon salt
– 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
– 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
– 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
– 2 cups ricotta cheese
– 2 eggs
– 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Cook noodles according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
3. In a large skillet, cook beef, sausage, onion, and garlic over medium heat until meat is browned and onion is tender. Drain fat.
4. Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, basil, fennel seeds, salt, and pepper and stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes.
5. In a medium bowl, mix together the ricotta cheese, eggs, and parsley.
6. In a 9×13 inch baking dish, spread 1 cup of the meat sauce.
7. Arrange four noodles over the sauce, overlapping as necessary.
8. Spread 1/3 of the ricotta mixture over the noodles, followed by 1 cup of the meat sauce.
9. Sprinkle 1 cup of the shredded mozzarella cheese over the meat sauce.
10. Repeat the layers, starting with noodles and ending with shredded mozzarella.
11. Sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese over the top of the lasagna.
12. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
13. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
14. Remove lasagna from the oven and let it sit for 10-15 minutes before serving.
Congratulations! You have just made a delicious and cheesier baked lasagna right at home. Serve it with a side salad and some garlic bread, and enjoy the deliciousness of this classic Italian dish.