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Ingredients (14)

• 12 lasagna noodles (uncooked)
• 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (divided)
• ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese (shredded and divided)
• ¾ teaspoon salt (more to taste)
• ½ pound lean ground beef
• ½ pound Italian sausage
• 1 yellow onion (diced)
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• 36 ounces pasta sauce (*see note)
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 2 cups ricotta cheese (or cottage cheese)
• ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1 large egg (beaten)

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Instructions (8 steps)

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the lasagna noodles and cook until al dente (firm) according to package directions. Drain, rinse under cold water, and set aside.
2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet or Dutch oven, brown the beef, sausage, onion, and garlic over medium-high heat until no pink remains. Drain any fat.
3. 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 slightly thickened. Taste and season with additional salt if desired.
4. In a separate medium bowl, combine 1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese, ¼ cup parmesan cheese, ricotta, parsley, egg, and ¼ teaspoon salt.
5. Spread 1 cup of the meat sauce in a 9x13 pan or casserole dish. Top it with 3 lasagna noodles. Layer with 1 cup of the ricotta cheese mixture and 1 cup of meat sauce. Repeat twice more. Finish with 3 noodles topped with remaining sauce.
6. Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes.
7. Remove the foil and sprinkle the top of the lasagna with the remaining mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese. Bake uncovered for an additional 15 minutes or until browned and bubbly. Broil for 2-3 minutes if desired.
8. Rest for at least 15 minutes before cutting.

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Ingredients (19)

• 2 teaspoons Extra virgin olive oil
• 1 pound lean ground beef (chuck)
• 1/2 onion, diced (about 3/4 cup)
• 1/2 large bell pepper (green, red, or yellow), diced (about 3/4 cup)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 28-ounce can good quality tomato sauce
• 3 ounces (half a 6-oz can) tomato paste
• 1 14-ounce can crushed tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano, or 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (preferably flat leaf), packed
• 1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning
• Pinch of garlic powder and/or garlic salt
• 1 tablespoon red or white wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon to 1/4 cup sugar (to taste, optional)
• Salt
• 1/2 lb dry lasagna noodles (requires 9 lasagna noodles - unbroken)
• 15 ounces Ricotta cheese
• 1 1/2 lb (24 ounces) Mozzarella cheese, grated or sliced
• 1/4 lb (4 ounces) freshly grated Parmesan cheese

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Instructions (9 steps)

1. Put pasta water on to boil: Put a large pot of salted water (1 tablespoon of salt for every 2 quarts of water) on the stovetop on high heat. It can take a while for a large pot of water to come to a boil (this will be your pasta water), so prepare the sauce in the next steps while the water is heating.
2. Brown the ground beef: In a large skillet, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until it is lightly browned on all sides. Remove the beef with a slotted spoon to a bowl. Drain off all but a tablespoon of fat.
3. Cook the bell pepper, onions, and garlic; add back the beef: Add the diced bell pepper and onions to the skillet (in the photo, we are using yellow bell pepper and red onions). Cook for 4 to 5 minutes, until the onions are translucent and the peppers softened. Add the minced garlic and cook half a minute more. Return the browned ground beef to the pan. Stir to combine, reduce the heat to low, and cook for another 5 minutes.
4. Make the sauce: Transfer the beef mixture to a medium-sized (3- to 4-quart) pot. Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, and tomato paste to the pot. Add the parsley, oregano, and Italian seasonings, adjusting the amounts to taste. Sprinkle with garlic powder and/or garlic salt, to taste. Sprinkle with red or white wine vinegar. Stir in sugar, a tablespoon at a time, tasting after each addition. (The amount of sugar needed will vary, depending on how acidic your tomatoes are.) Add salt to taste. Remember that you will later be adding parmesan, which is salty. Bring the sauce to a simmer and then lower the heat to maintain a low simmer. Cook for 15 to 45 minutes, stirring often. Scrape the bottom of the pot occasionally, making sure nothing sticks to the bottom and scorches. Remove from heat.
5. Boil and drain the lasagna noodles: By now, the salted water you started heating in step one should be boiling. Add the dry lasagna noodles and cook them to al dente, per package directions. (Note: noodles may be cooked in advance.) Stir the water often to prevent sticking. Make sure that the water remains at a full rolling boil during the entire cooking process, in order to prevent noodles from sticking. When the noodles are done, drain them in a colander and rinse with cool water, gently separating any noodles that may be sticking together. Spread a little olive oil on a large, rimmed baking sheet, and lay out the cooked noodles on this sheet, turning them once so that all sides get coated with some of the olive oil. This will prevent them from sticking together.
6. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
7. Assemble the lasagna: In a 9x13-inch casserole or lasagna dish, ladle a cup of sauce over the bottom of the dish and spread it evenly. Arrange one layer of lasagna noodles lengthwise over the sauce (about 3 long noodles; the edges may overlap, depending on your pan). Ladle a third of the remaining sauce over the noodles. Sprinkle a third of the grated mozzarella on top of the lasagna sauce. Add half of the ricotta cheese by placing cheese dollops every two inches. Sprinkle half of the grated parmesan cheese evenly over the top of the ricotta cheese. Apply the second layer of noodles. Top it with half of the remaining sauce. Add half of the remaining mozzarella, the rest of the ricotta cheese, and the rest of the parmesan cheese. Finish with a final layer of noodles. Spread the remaining sauce over the top layer of noodles and sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella cheese.
8. Bake: Cover the lasagna pan with aluminum foil, tenting the foil slightly so it doesn't touch the noodles or sauce. Bake at 375°F for 45 minutes. If you'd like more of a crusty top or edges, uncover the lasagna in the last 10 minutes.
9. Cool and serve: Allow the lasagna to cool for at least 15 minutes before serving. Leftovers will keep for about 5 days. You can reheat lasagna in a conventional oven or microwave. While storing, leave the aluminum tent on. (Try to keep the aluminum foil from touching the sauce.) Did you love the recipe? Leave us a rating and review below!

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Ingredients (18)

• 9 lasagna noodles
• 1-1/4 pounds bulk Italian sausage
• 3/4 pound ground beef
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 cans (one 28 ounces, one 15 ounces) crushed tomatoes
• 2 cans (6 ounces each) tomato paste
• 2/3 cup water
• 2 to 3 tablespoons sugar
• 3 tablespoons plus 1/4 cup minced fresh parsley, divided
• 2 teaspoons dried basil
• 3/4 teaspoon fennel seed
• 3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
• 1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1 carton (15 ounces) ricotta cheese
• 4 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
• 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

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Instructions (10 steps)

1. Brown the beef
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the noodles according to the package directions. When complete, drain the noodles, and set aside. Meanwhile, heat a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the bulk Italian sausage, ground beef and diced onion. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until the meat is no longer pink, breaking up the meat with a large spoon as it cooks to create gorgeous crumbles. Add the garlic, and cook for one minute, until the mixture is fragrant. Editor's Tip: To ensure the noodles will not stick to each other, stir the water like a whirlpool when you add the pasta sheets.
3. Make the meat sauce
4. Drain the mixture in the Dutch oven. Then, add the remaining sauce ingredients: crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, water, sugar, 3 tablespoons parsley, basil, fennel, 1/2 teaspoon salt and coarsely ground pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook, uncovered, for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Prepare the cheese filling
6. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg, ricotta cheese, and remaining 1/4 cup parsley and 1/4 teaspoon salt. If you haven’t already, grate the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Editor’s Tip: For the freshest, creamiest taste, grate your own cheese at home.
7. Layer the lasagna ingredients
8. Preheat the oven to 375°. Spoon 2 cups meat sauce into an ungreased 13x9-inch baking dish, spreading it out to cover the entire dish. Layer three noodles onto the sauce. Add one-third of the ricotta mixture, spreading it over the noodles with a rubber spatula or an icing spatula. Sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella cheese and 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese. Repeat the layers twice, finishing with remaining meat sauce and cheeses. The dish will be very full by the time you get to the top!
9. Bake the lasagna
10. Cover the baking dish, and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the cover, and cook for an additional 25 minutes, until the sauce is bubbling around the edges and the cheese is fully melted. Let the lasagna stand for 15 minutes before slicing and serving.

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