Classic Lasagna Recipe

Ingredients

• 9–12 lasagna noodles
• 1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
• 2 (6 oz) cans tomato paste
• 2 (6.5 oz) cans tomato sauce
• ½ cup water
• 2 tbsp white sugar
• 1½ tsp dried basil
• ½ tsp fennel seeds
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 tbsp salt, divided
• ¼ tsp ground black pepper
• 4 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, divided
• 12 oz ricotta cheese
• 1 egg
• ¾ tsp salt
• ¾ lb mozzarella, sliced
• ¾ cup grated Parmesan

Steps

1. Cook noodles per package directions. Rinse with cold water and drain.
2. In a Dutch oven, cook beef/sausage, onion, and garlic until browned. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, water. Season with sugar, basil, fennel, Italian seasoning, 1 tbsp salt, pepper, 2 tbsp parsley. Simmer covered ~1½ hours, stirring occasionally.
3. Combine ricotta with egg, remaining 2 tbsp parsley, and ¾ tsp salt.
4. Preheat oven to 375°F. In a 9×13 dish: spread 1½ cups meat sauce; layer 6 noodles; spread half of ricotta; top with ⅓ of mozzarella; 1½ cups meat sauce; ¼ cup Parmesan. Repeat layers; top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan. Cover with foil (spray foil or keep it off the cheese).
5. Bake 25 min. Remove foil; bake 25 min more. Cool 15 min before serving.