The Ultimate Classic Lasagna

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp Olive Oil
• 1 lb Ground Beef (80/20)
• 1 Yellow Onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves Garlic, minced
• 28 oz Crushed Tomatoes
• 6 oz Tomato Paste
• 1/2 cup Water
• 2 tsp Granulated Sugar
• 1 tsp Dried Italian Seasoning
• 1 tsp Kosher Salt
• 1/2 tsp Black Pepper, freshly ground
• 15 oz Whole Milk Ricotta Cheese
• 1 Large Egg, lightly beaten
• 1/4 cup Fresh Parsley, chopped
• 1/2 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese, divided
• 12 Lasagna Noodles
• 16 oz Shredded Low-Moisture Mozzarella Cheese

Steps

1. 1

   Preheat your oven to 375°F. In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart with a spoon. Drain off any excess fat.

2. 2

   Add the chopped onion to the pot and cook for 5 minutes until softened. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.

3. 3

   Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, water, sugar, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it cook for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.

4. 4

   While the sauce simmers, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the lasagna noodles according to package directions for al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to prevent sticking.

5. 5

   In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, beaten egg, chopped parsley, and half of the Parmesan cheese (1/4 cup). Mix until well combined.

6. 6

   To assemble, spread 1 cup of the meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish. Arrange 3 noodles in a single layer over the sauce. Spread half of the ricotta mixture over the noodles, followed by 1/3 of the mozzarella cheese. Spoon about 1 1/2 cups of meat sauce over the cheese.

7. 7

   Repeat the layering process once more: 3 noodles, the remaining ricotta mixture, another 1/3 of the mozzarella, and 1 1/2 cups of sauce. Top with the last 3 noodles, the remaining sauce, the rest of the mozzarella, and the remaining 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese.

8. 8

   Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and continue to bake for another 25-30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the edges are browned.

9. 9

   Remove the lasagna from the oven and let it rest for at least 15 minutes before slicing and serving. This allows the layers to set.