Easy Lasagna

 

Ingredients  

• ▢12 lasagna noodles uncooked
• ▢4 cups mozzarella cheese shredded and divided
• ▢½ cup parmesan cheese shredded and divided

Tomato Sauce

• ▢½ pound lean ground beef
• ▢½ pound Italian sausage
• ▢1 onion diced
• ▢2 cloves garlic minced
• ▢36 ounces pasta sauce *see note
• ▢2 tablespoons tomato paste
• ▢1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

Cheese Mixture

• ▢2 cups ricotta cheese
• ▢¼ cup fresh parsley chopped
• ▢1 egg beaten

Instructions 

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a large pot of salted water, boil lasagna noodles until al dente according to package directions. Drain, rinse under cold water, and set aside.
• In a large skillet or dutch oven, brown beef, sausage, onion, and garlic over medium-high heat until no pink remains. Drain any fat.
• Stir in the pasta sauce, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, ½ teaspoon of salt, and ¼ teaspoon of black pepper. Simmer uncovered over medium heat for 5 minutes or until thickened.
• In a separate bowl, combine 1 ½ cups mozzarella, ¼ cup parmesan cheese, ricotta, parsley, egg, and ¼ teaspoon salt.
• Spread 1 cup of the meat sauce in a 9×13 pan or casserole dish. Top it with 3 lasagna noodles. Layer with ⅓ of the ricotta cheese mixture and 1 cup of meat sauce. Repeat twice more. Finish with 3 noodles topped with remaining sauce.
• Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes. 
• Remove the foil and sprinkle with the remaining 2 ½ cups mozzarella cheese and ¼ cup parmesan cheese. Bake for an additional 15 minutes or until browned and bubbly. Broil for 2-3 minutes if desired.
• Rest for at least 15 minutes before cutting.