Print

World’s Best Lasagna Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.7 from 64 reviews

This World’s Best Lasagna recipe is a rich, layered delight featuring a savory meat sauce made from sweet Italian sausage and lean ground beef, combined with a blend of cheeses and herbs. Perfect for feeding a crowd, it’s a true classic that requires some time but rewards with a deeply flavorful, comforting meal that’s become one of the most beloved lasagna recipes worldwide.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat and Aromatics

  • 1 pound sweet Italian sausage
  • ¾ pound lean ground beef
  • ½ cup minced onion
  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed

Tomato Sauce

  • 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 2 (6.5 ounce) cans canned tomato sauce
  • 2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
  • ½ cup water
  • 2 tablespoons white sugar
  • 4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, divided
  • 1 ½ teaspoons dried basil leaves
  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt, divided, or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon fennel seeds
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Lasagna Components

  • 12 lasagna noodles
  • 16 ounces ricotta cheese
  • 1 large egg
  • ¾ pound mozzarella cheese, sliced
  • ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Prepare Ingredients: Gather all ingredients and preheat your oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
  2. Brown Meat and Sauté Aromatics: In a Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the sweet Italian sausage, lean ground beef, minced onion, and crushed garlic until the meat is well browned and the onion is tender.
  3. Make the Meat Sauce: Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, and water. Season the mixture with white sugar, 2 tablespoons of fresh parsley, dried basil leaves, 1 teaspoon salt, Italian seasoning, fennel seeds, and ground black pepper. Cover and simmer for about 1 ½ hours, stirring occasionally to develop deep flavors.
  4. Cook the Lasagna Noodles: Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook lasagna noodles for 8 to 10 minutes until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop cooking and prevent sticking.
  5. Prepare the Ricotta Mixture: In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese, one large egg, the remaining 2 tablespoons of parsley, and ½ teaspoon salt. Mix well to create a creamy binding layer.
  6. Assemble the Lasagna: Spread 1 ½ cups of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish. Arrange 6 lasagna noodles lengthwise over the sauce, overlapping slightly. Spread half of the ricotta mixture over the noodles, then layer with one-third of the sliced mozzarella. Spoon 1 ½ cups of meat sauce over the mozzarella and sprinkle with ¼ cup of grated Parmesan cheese.
  7. Layer Again: Repeat the layering process with the remaining noodles, ricotta mixture, mozzarella, meat sauce, and Parmesan cheese.
  8. Cover and Bake: Cover the dish with foil, spritzing the foil with cooking spray or ensuring it doesn’t touch the cheese to prevent sticking. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes.
  9. Uncover and Continue Baking: Remove the foil and bake for an additional 25 minutes until the top is golden and bubbly.
  10. Rest Before Serving: Allow the lasagna to rest at room temperature for about 15 minutes to set and firm up, making it easier to cut and serve.

Notes

  • For best results, use a Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot to brown the meat and simmer the sauce to develop rich flavors.
  • Prevent foil from sticking to the cheese by spraying it with cooking spray before covering the lasagna.
  • You may prepare the lasagna a day in advance and refrigerate before baking to save time on serving day.
  • Reheat leftovers covered with foil at 350°F (175°C) for about 30 minutes until bubbly.
  • To freeze, cook in a foil dish, let cool, then wrap tightly with plastic wrap and foil; freeze up to 3 months.
  • Thaw frozen lasagna in the refrigerator overnight before reheating for best texture.
  • The recipe uses two layers of noodles with slight overlap; for a 3-layer variation, adjust sauce and cheese quantity accordingly.

Keywords: lasagna, Italian lasagna, baked pasta, meat lasagna, ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, Italian cuisine, classic lasagna, homemade sauce

Find it online: https://foodbylina.com/worlds-best-lasagna-recipe/