Description
The Best Lasagna is a hearty, comforting classic made with layers of rich meat sauce, creamy cottage cheese, and plenty of melty mozzarella. Perfect for feeding a crowd or preparing ahead for family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 1/2 – 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 pound breakfast sausage or ground Italian sausage
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 2 (6-ounce) cans tomato paste
- 4 tablespoons dried parsley, divided
- 2 tablespoons dried basil
- 1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
- 3 cups low-fat cottage cheese
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 (10-ounce) package lasagna noodles
- 1 pound sliced mozzarella cheese (not fresh mozzarella)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add ground beef and sausage, cooking until browned. Drain excess fat.
- Add garlic, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, 2 tablespoons parsley, basil, and 1 tablespoon salt. Stir and let simmer for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, cook lasagna noodles according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, combine cottage cheese, eggs, Parmesan, remaining parsley, and 2 teaspoons salt. Mix until smooth.
- In a large 9×13-inch baking dish, spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom. Add a layer of noodles, followed by a layer of the cottage cheese mixture, then a layer of sliced mozzarella, and then more meat sauce.
- Repeat layers until all ingredients are used, finishing with mozzarella on top.
- Cover with foil (to prevent sticking, spray foil with cooking spray first).
- Bake for 25 minutes, then remove foil and bake an additional 25 minutes, until cheese is bubbly and lightly golden.
- Let rest for 15 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Substitute ricotta cheese for cottage cheese if preferred.
- Make ahead by assembling the lasagna and refrigerating for up to 24 hours before baking.
- For extra flavor, add red pepper flakes or Italian seasoning to the meat sauce.
- Lasagna freezes well—bake, cool, and freeze in portions for easy meals.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 1150mg
- Fat: 27g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 37g
- Cholesterol: 115mg
Keywords: best lasagna, homemade lasagna, classic lasagna recipe, layered pasta bake, cheesy lasagna