Ingredients
Ground Meat Mixture:
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 lb Italian sausage (casings removed, if applicable)
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• Salt and pepper to taste
Uncooked Sauce:
• 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
• 1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
• 1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for a little heat)
• Salt and pepper to taste
Cheese Mixture:
• 15 oz ricotta cheese (or cottage cheese)
• 2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
• Salt and pepper to taste
Other Ingredients:
• 12 lasagna noodles (cooked according to package instructions)
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (for topping)
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (for topping)
Instructions
1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F
2. Cook the Ground Meat Mixture:
• Heat a large skillet over medium heat.
• Add ground beef and Italian sausage, breaking them apart as they cook.
• Once browned, drain any excess grease.
• Add the diced onion and garlic to the skillet and cook until softened, about 3 minutes.
• Season with salt and pepper, then set aside.
3. Prepare the Sauce:
• In a medium bowl, combine crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, fresh basil, oregano, thyme, red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and pepper. Stir until well mixed.
4. Prepare the Cheese Mixture:
• In a separate bowl, combine ricotta cheese, chopped spinach, egg, shredded mozzarella, Parmesan, fresh basil, salt, and pepper. Mix until smooth.
5. Assemble the Lasagna:
• Spread a thin layer of the sauce on the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish.
• Add a layer of lasagna noodles (3-4, depending on your dish size).
• Spread a layer of the cheese mixture over the noodles.
• Add a layer of the cooked ground meat mixture.
• Top with a layer of butter sauce.
• Repeat layers (noodles, cheese mixture, ground meat, sauce) until all ingredients are used, ending with a layer of sauce on top.
• Sprinkle the top with shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
6. Bake:
• Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes.
• Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
7. Rest and Serve:
• Let the lasagna rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing to allow the layers to set.
Enjoy your lasagna with a bold, fresh sauce and savory meat layers!