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A slice of lasagna on a plate with a glass of wine.

The Best Homemade Lasagna Recipe

Ashley Manila
Cook lasagna like a pro with this classic lasagna recipe! What makes it better than the rest? Al dente lasagna noodles, flavorful ricotta cheese mixture, tomato sauce, and gooey layers of cheese. Absolutely bursting with flavor, this hearty lasagna is heaven in a casserole dish. 
4.99 from 71 votes
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Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Inactive Time 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 45 minutes
Course Dinner
Cuisine Italian
Servings 10 servings

Ingredients
 

For the Meat Sauce:

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 5 ounces pancetta, diced into small bits
  • 1 pound hot Italian sausage
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 6 cloves garlic, crushed and chopped
  • 1 cup onion, chopped
  • 3 Tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 cup dry red wine (use something you'd enjoy drinking)
  • 1/2 cup beef stock
  • 2 (28 ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped
  • 3 Tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • 2 Tablespoons fresh oregano, chopped
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

For the Ricotta Layer:

  • 16 ounces ricotta cheese
  • 5 ounces fontina cheese, grated
  • 1 large egg plus 1 egg yolk
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

For the Lasagna:

  • 15 lasagna noodles
  • 8 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, finely grated

Instructions
 

For the Meat Sauce:

  • Place a large saucepan or pot over medium high heat. Add oil and pancetta cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until browned. Add in the sausage and beef and use a wooden spoon to break the meat up into pieces. Continue cooking until meat is browned and no pink remains, about 5 minutes. 
  • Add garlic and cook for 1 minute, or until fragrant. Add in the onion and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, for 6 to 8 minutes, or until onion has softened and is almost translucent. Stir in the tomato paste. 
  • Add in the wine and stir to combine. Cook for 5 minutes. Then stir in the stock and crushed tomatoes, stirring well to combine. Bring sauce to a boil, then reduce to medium low and continue cooking for at least 40 minutes. 
  • Stir in the sugar, basil, parsley, and oregano. Cook for another 5 minutes. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed. 
  • Remove from heat allow to slightly cool before using it in the lasagna. 

For the Ricotta Layer:

  • In a large bowl combine the ricotta, fontina, egg, egg yolk, and nutmeg, mixing until well combined. Set aside until needed. 

For the Lasagna:

  • Place a long sheet of parchment paper (about 16") on you countertop. Lightly brush with olive oil. 
  • Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add a pinch of salt, then add in the lasagna noodles. Cook for 4 minutes, then use tongs to remove the noodles, placing them side by side on the prepared parchment paper. 
  • Shred mozzarella cheese and set aside until needed. Grate the parmesan cheese and set aside until needed. 

Assembly:

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees (F). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish. 
  • Pour 1 cup of meat sauce on the bottom of the casserole dish. Then layer 5 noodles on top of the sauce. Top with 3/4 cup of the ricotta filling, 1 and 1/2 cups of the sauce, and 1/4 cup of the parmesan cheese. Repeat 2 more times. 
  • On the top layer, add the remaining sauce and mozzarella cheese. 
  • Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking to 15 to 20 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbling. 
  • Remove from oven and let the lasagna rest for at least 15 minutes before slicing. 

Video

Equipment

1 9x13 glass baking dish
Keyword lasagna, pasta, dinner, tomato sauce, ricotta cheese, homemade lasagna
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