Absolute Best Ever Lasagna Recipe

This meat-lover's lasagna recipe is a family favorite! Loaded with savory ground beef and your choice of creamy cottage cheese or ricotta, this recipe delivers ultimate comfort food. Easy to follow instructions guide you to lasagna perfection – guaranteed to become your new go-to weeknight meal or impressive party dish!

Prep Time 45 mins

Cook Time 150 mins

Calories 517.1 kcal

Protein 73g

Rating Be the first

225

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Recipe Author

The Forktionary Kitchen Team

Adapted from Food.com, then tested & standardized by Forktionary.

Ingredients for Absolute Best Ever Lasagna

2 lbs Lean Ground Beef
1 lb Italian Sausage
1 large Onion, chopped
4-6 Garlic Cloves, minced
2 1/2 teaspoons Salt
1 teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper
1 tablespoon Dried Parsley Flakes
1 tablespoon Dried Oregano
1 tablespoon Dried Basil
2 (28 ounce) cans Crushed Tomatoes
2 lbs Ricotta Cheese
2 large Eggs
1/4 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
1/4 cup chopped Fresh Parsley
1 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
1 lb Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
9 Lasagna Noodles
1 (15 ounce) can Tomato Sauce
1/2 cup Water (or dry red wine)
1 teaspoon Sugar (optional)
1 Bay Leaf (optional)
Olive Oil, for drizzling

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How to Make Absolute Best Ever Lasagna

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat; drain excess fat.
Add onion and garlic to the skillet and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Spread a thin layer of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.
Layer 3 lasagna noodles over the sauce.
Spread half of the cottage cheese (or ricotta) over the noodles.
Top with 1/3 of the mozzarella cheese and 1/4 of the Parmesan cheese.
Repeat layers: meat sauce, 3 noodles, remaining cottage cheese, 1/3 mozzarella cheese, 1/4 Parmesan cheese.
Top with remaining 3 noodles, remaining meat sauce, remaining mozzarella cheese, and remaining Parmesan cheese.
Drizzle with olive oil.
Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 45 minutes.
Remove foil and bake for an additional 30-45 minutes, or until bubbly and cheese is golden brown. Let stand for 10-15 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Information (Approximate per serving)

Sodium

34 g

Sugar

15g

Fat

75g

Carbs

Recipe Categories (Choose a category and find related recipes!)

Main Courses Main Dish / Dinner Beef & Red Meat Ground Beef Recipes European Italian Baking

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to make Absolute Best Ever Lasagna?

Absolute Best Ever Lasagna takes about 195 minutes from start to finish — roughly 45 minutes to prepare and 150 minutes to cook.

How many calories are in Absolute Best Ever Lasagna?

Absolute Best Ever Lasagna has approximately 517.1 calories per serving, with about 73 g protein, 8 g carbohydrates and 45 g fat.

What ingredients do I need for Absolute Best Ever Lasagna?

The key ingredients for Absolute Best Ever Lasagna are Lean Ground Beef, Italian Sausage, Onion, Garlic Cloves, Salt, Fresh Coarse Ground Black Pepper. See the full list with measurements above.