Best 8 Tasty Meat Sauce For Lasagna Recipes

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Lasagna is a timeless classic dish that is both hearty and delicious. However, it's the meat sauce that truly elevates lasagna to the next level. Whether you prefer a traditional Bolognese sauce simmered for hours or a quick and easy weeknight option, there's a tasty meat sauce recipe out there that will perfectly complement your lasagna. With our comprehensive guide, we'll uncover the secrets to crafting the perfect meat sauce for lasagna, so you can create a mouthwatering dish that will satisfy even the most discerning palate.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

CLASSIC LASAGNA RECIPE BY TASTY



Classic Lasagna Recipe by Tasty image

When layers of cheesy lasagna come together flawlessly, that's amore! Pile on beefy marinara sauce, delicious noodles, and a blend of cheeses, then kick back and let this lasagna do the bakin'. This classic Italian dinner is easy to whip up and even easier to call your go-to comfort food.

Provided by Betsy Carter

Categories     Dinner

Time 50m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

nonstick cooking spray, for greasing
1 lb ground beef, cooked and drained of fat
4 cups marinara sauce
4 cups whole milk ricotta cheese
2 cups grated parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
15 lasagna noodles, cooked according to package instrucions
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 350ºF (180ºC). Grease a 9 x 13-inch (22 x 33 cm) baking dish lightly with nonstick spray.
  • In a large bowl, mix together the ground beef and marinara sauce.
  • In a separate large bowl, combine the ricotta, Parmesan, parsley, basil, salt, pepper, and olive oil.
  • Spread 1 cup of the meat sauce over the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Top with 5 cooked lasagna noodles, overlapping as needed to completely cover the sauce. Spread 2 cups of the ricotta mixture over the noodles. Top with 1 cup of mozzarella cheese. Repeat with the remaining meat sauce, noodles, ricotta, and mozzarella to make 2 more layers.
  • Bake the lasagna for 25-30 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the sauce is bubbling up through the layers. Turn the broiler to high and broil for 1-2 minutes, until the top layer of cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
  • Let the lasagna cool for 30-45 minutes, then serve.
  • Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 946 calories, Carbohydrate 28 grams, Fat 58 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 68 grams, Sugar 7 grams

MEAT SAUCE LASAGNA



Meat Sauce Lasagna image

I learned to make lasagna from my mother, and think this recipe is so much better than any other lasagna I've tried. Feel free to add green peppers to the meat sauce if that sounds good to you. The meat sauce gets more flavor as it cooks, so simmer it anywhere from 45 minutes to a couple of hours, but keep the temerature low so you don't reduce the amount by much. I also really recommend using the long rectangular slices of mozzarella cheese (approximately 3x6 inches) rather then shredded cheese, since it is so much easier to spread the meat sauce on the slices.

Provided by karen

Categories     Meat

Time 2h

Yield 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 13

1 1/2 lbs ground beef
1 onion, chopped
8 ounces tomato sauce
6 ounces tomato paste
garlic powder, to taste
salt and pepper, to taste
basil, to taste
oregano, to taste
2 eggs, beaten
24 ounces cottage cheese, large curd
6 lasagna noodles
8 slices mozzarella cheese (long rectangular slices, not small squares)
4 tablespoons parmesan cheese

Steps:

  • Brown ground beef with onion in large pot. Drain grease and return to pot.
  • Add tomato sauce & tomato paste, plus one can of water of each.
  • Add garlic powder, salt, pepper, basil and oregano.
  • Cook 45 minutes or more.
  • Just before you are ready to assemble the lasagna, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add lasagna noodles, laying them flat. Do not break. Cook in boiling water for about 10-15 minutes, then drain.
  • While noodles are cooking, mix eggs with cottage cheese in a medium bowl.
  • Spray 9 x 13 glass baking dish with cooking spray.
  • TO ASSEMBLE LASAGNA: Place layer of noodles on bottom of pan, cutting them to fit so they do not overlap.
  • Spread 1/2 of the cottage cheese over the noodles.
  • Place a layer of mozzarella cheese on the cottage cheese, cutting the cheese as needed to avoid overlapping.
  • Spread 1/2 of the meat sauce on top of the cheese.
  • Sprinkle with 2 oz Parmesan cheese.
  • Repeat layers (noodles, cottage cheese, mozzarella cheese, meat sauce and then Parmesan cheese).
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
  • NOTE: Lasagna can be assembled in advance and baked just before serving. Let sit for a few minutes before cutting.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 481.3, Fat 25.5, SaturatedFat 11.3, Cholesterol 144.9, Sodium 947, Carbohydrate 23.6, Fiber 2.1, Sugar 7.7, Protein 38.6

LASAGNA WITH MEAT SAUCE



Lasagna with Meat Sauce image

Ground beef and sweet Italian sausage enrich the sauce for this beloved baked pasta, while no-boil lasagna noodles speed up the process. Check out our step-by-step guide.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Ingredients     Meat & Poultry     Beef Recipes     Ground Beef Recipes

Time 2h30m

Yield Serves 8 to 10

Number Of Ingredients 20

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3/4 pound 85-percent lean ground beef
3/4 pound sweet Italian sausage, removed from casing
1 medium onion, chopped (1 1/2 cups)
2 carrots, peeled and chopped (3/4 cup)
2 celery stalks, chopped (3/4 cup)
Kosher salt
6 garlic cloves, minced (2 tablespoons)
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
3 tablespoons tomato paste
2 cans (28 ounces each) whole peeled tomatoes in juice
24 ounces whole-milk ricotta (3 cups)
1 cup whole milk
3 large eggs
4 ounces Parmigiano-Reggiano, finely grated (1 1/4 cups)
1 pound low-moisture mozzarella, shredded (4 cups)
3/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
18 dry lasagna noodles

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  • Meat Sauce: Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high. Add beef, sausage, onion, carrots, celery, and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally and breaking up meat into bite-size pieces, until vegetables soften and meat has browned, about 10 minutes. Add garlic, oregano, and red-pepper flakes; cook until fragrant, 1 minute. Add tomato paste; cook 2 minutes more. Puree tomatoes in a blender or food processor; add to pan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until reduced and thickened slightly but still very loose, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat.
  • Cheese Mixture: In a large bowl, whisk together ricotta, milk, eggs, 1 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano, 2 1/2 cups mozzarella, parsley, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
  • Assembly: Spread 2 cups meat sauce evenly in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish, preferably ceramic or enameled cast iron. Arrange 3 lasagna noodles over sauce (space noodles evenly; they will expand as the lasagna cooks). Spread 2 cups cheese mixture over noodles; top with 3 more noodles. Repeat layering of meat and cheese mixtures between noodles twice more. Spread 2 cups meat sauce evenly over top layer of noodles. Sprinkle evenly with remaining 1 1/2 cups mozzarella and 1/4 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano. Loosely cover with parchment-lined foil and transfer to a rimmed baking sheet.
  • Bake until noodles are tender but still al dente (easily pierced with the tip of a knife), 40 to 45 minutes. Uncover; continue baking until bubbly and puffed slightly along edges and golden brown in places on top, 20 to 25 minutes more. (There may appear to be a lot of liquid in the dish. It will be absorbed as the lasagna cools.) Transfer dish to a wire rack and let cool slightly and set, about 20 minutes; cut into squares to serve.

TASTY MEAT SAUCE FOR LASAGNA



Tasty Meat Sauce for Lasagna image

Looking to use up some stuff in my freezer, I came up with this recipe with things I had on hand. It is really tasty and made a great lasagna! There aren't many ingredients, so it's simple to make. You will need a larger pot for this.

Provided by atm1970

Categories     Sauces

Time 3h30m

Yield 4-6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 lb Italian sausage (any variety, casings removed)
1/2 lb ground beef
2 (28 ounce) cans tomatoes (I used one crushed and one puree)
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce (I use Red Pack)
1/2 large onion, diced
1 large carrot, peeled and diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 cup beef or 1/2 cup vegetable stock
1/3 cup white zinfandel wine or 1/3 cup blush wine
salt and pepper

Steps:

  • Remove sausage from casings.
  • In a large pot, brown sausage and ground beef.
  • Remove meat from pot and set aside.
  • Remove excess grease (reserving some to saute veggies) from the pot and add carrot, onion and garlic.
  • Cook until soft and onion is transparent.
  • Add meat back into the pot, stirring mixture for about two minutes.
  • Add wine and cook until liquid evaporates.
  • Add tomatoes and tomato sauce to meat and veggie mixture.
  • Bring sauce to quick boil.
  • Simmer on low for at least 3 hours.
  • If sauce beomes too thick for your taste, thin it with the broth.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 804.5, Fat 60.5, SaturatedFat 22.8, Cholesterol 131.2, Sodium 1747.4, Carbohydrate 27.2, Fiber 6.6, Sugar 15.6, Protein 39.3

LASAGNA WITH WHITE SAUCE



Lasagna with White Sauce image

I'm an old-fashioned country cook and I love preparing simple recipes like this lasagna. White sauce, tomatoes and beef are kitchen staples I normally keep on hand, so it's simple to make this dish on weeknights. -Angie Price, Bradford, Tennessee

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 1h20m

Yield 12 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 18

1 pound ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 teaspoon beef bouillon granules
1-1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
WHITE SAUCE:
2 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 cups 2% milk
1-1/4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
10 to 12 uncooked lasagna noodles
Minced fresh parsley, optional

Steps:

  • In a Dutch oven, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink, breaking it into crumbles; drain. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, bouillon and seasonings. Cover and cook over medium-low heat 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. , Meanwhile, melt butter in a large saucepan; stir in the flour, salt and pepper until blended. Gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat and stir in half the cheese; set aside. , Pour half the meat sauce into an ungreased 13x9-in. baking dish. Layer with half the lasagna noodles and remaining meat sauce. Top with remaining noodles. Pour white sauce over noodles. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. , Cover and bake at 400° until bubbly and noodles are tender, 40 minutes. If desired, uncover and broil 5-6 inches from heat until lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley as desired.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 232 calories, Fat 10g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 38mg cholesterol, Sodium 639mg sodium, Carbohydrate 22g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 14g protein.

BEST LASAGNA



Best Lasagna image

Want to know how to make lasagna for a casual holiday meal? You can't go wrong with this deliciously rich meat lasagna recipe. My grown sons and daughter-in-law request it for their birthdays, too. -Pam Thompson, Girard, Illinois

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 1h50m

Yield 12 servings.

Number Of 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

Steps:

  • Cook noodles according to package directions; drain. Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven, cook sausage, beef and onion over medium heat 8-10 minutes or until meat is no longer pink, breaking up meat into crumbles. Add garlic; cook 1 minute. Drain., Stir in tomatoes, tomato paste, water, sugar, 3 tablespoons parsley, basil, fennel, 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 30 minutes, stirring occasionally., In a small bowl, mix egg, ricotta cheese and remaining parsley and salt., Preheat oven to 375°. Spread 2 cups meat sauce into an ungreased 13x9-in. baking dish. Layer with 3 noodles and a third of the ricotta mixture. Sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella cheese and 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese. Repeat layers twice. Top with remaining meat sauce and cheeses (dish will be full)., Bake, covered, 25 minutes. Bake, uncovered, 25 minutes longer or until bubbly. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 519 calories, Fat 27g fat (13g saturated fat), Cholesterol 109mg cholesterol, Sodium 1013mg sodium, Carbohydrate 35g carbohydrate (10g sugars, Fiber 4g fiber), Protein 35g protein.

WORLD'S BEST LASAGNA



World's Best Lasagna image

It takes a little work, but it is worth it.

Provided by John Chandler

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     Italian

Time 3h15m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 20

1 pound sweet Italian sausage
¾ pound lean ground beef
½ cup minced onion
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
2 (6.5 ounce) cans canned tomato sauce
½ cup water
2 tablespoons white sugar
1 ½ teaspoons dried basil leaves
½ teaspoon fennel seeds
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 ½ teaspoons salt, divided, or to taste
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
12 lasagna noodles
16 ounces ricotta cheese
1 egg
¾ pound mozzarella cheese, sliced
¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Steps:

  • In a Dutch oven, cook sausage, ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat until well browned. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and water. Season with sugar, basil, fennel seeds, Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon salt, pepper, and 2 tablespoons parsley. Simmer, covered, for about 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook lasagna noodles in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes. Drain noodles, and rinse with cold water. In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese with egg, remaining parsley, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
  • To assemble, spread 1 1/2 cups of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish. Arrange 6 noodles lengthwise over meat sauce. Spread with one half of the ricotta cheese mixture. Top with a third of mozzarella cheese slices. Spoon 1 1/2 cups meat sauce over mozzarella, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Repeat layers, and top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil: to prevent sticking, either spray foil with cooking spray, or make sure the foil does not touch the cheese.
  • Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil, and bake an additional 25 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 448.2 calories, Carbohydrate 36.5 g, Cholesterol 81.8 mg, Fat 21.3 g, Fiber 4 g, Protein 29.7 g, SaturatedFat 9.9 g, Sodium 1400.4 mg, Sugar 8.6 g

THE BEST LASAGNA RECIPE BY TASTY



The Best Lasagna Recipe by Tasty image

Tasty's ultimate lasagna is cheesy, comforting and indulgent. We spent hours upon hours perfecting this recipe to test different techniques, methods, and ingredients and ended up with a dish that has layers of creamy béchamel, rich tomato sauce, and mounds of mozzarella and fontina cheeses. We truly think it's the best!

Provided by Lauren Lee

Categories     Dinner

Time 22h10m

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 35

½ lb ground sirloin, lean
½ lb mild italian pork sausage, casing removed
2 oz prosciutto, finely chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, diced
2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more to taste
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon fresh thyme
1 tablespoon fresh oregano
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
½ teaspoon fennel seeds, crushed
2 tablespoons tomato paste
½ cup dry red wine
28 oz whole tomatoes, preferably San Marzano
1 ½ cups passata, or strained tomatoes
1 large carrot, eeled
½ cup unsalted butter
1 teaspoon granulated sugar, optional
½ cup fresh basil leaves, torn
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
6 tablespoons all purpose flour
6 cups whole milk, room temperature
2 teaspoons kosher salt
¾ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1 cup freshly grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese
nonstick cooking spray, for greasing
1 lb no boil lasagna noodles
hot water
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 ½ cups freshly grated fontina cheese
1 cup freshly grated low-moisture mozzarella cheese
4 oz fresh mozzarella cheese, torn into small pieces
¼ cup freshly grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese
fresh basil leaf, for garnish

Steps:

  • Make the meat sauce: In a large bowl, gently combine the ground sirloin, sausage, and prosciutto, being careful not to overmix. Shape into 5-6 large, shaggy meatballs.
  • Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add the meatballs and brown on all sides, 1-2 minutes per side. Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet and repeat with the remaining meatballs.
  • Reduce the heat to medium and add the onion. Season with salt and sauté until translucent, 5-7 minutes.
  • Add the garlic, thyme, oregano, red pepper flakes, and fennel seeds. Sauté for 1 minute, until the garlic is fragrant.
  • Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring frequently, until the color turns dark red, 3-4 minutes.
  • Deglaze the pot with the red wine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom, and cook until the liquid has almost evaporated, 1-2 minutes.
  • Add the canned tomatoes, passata, carrot, butter, the browned meatballs, and 2 teaspoons of salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1½-2 hours, until the sauce has thickened.
  • Remove the sauce from the heat and discard the carrot, then use a potato masher to crush the meatballs into small pieces. Season the sauce with more salt to taste. If the sauce tastes too acidic, add the granulated sugar. Stir in the basil leaves and set aside.
  • Make the béchamel sauce: Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Once the butter starts to foam, add the flour. Cook, whisking constantly, for about 3 minutes, until no lumps remain but the roux has not yet browned. While whisking, slowly pour in the milk until evenly incorporated. Whisk in the salt, garlic powder, and nutmeg. Bring to a low simmer and cook, whisking often, until the sauce has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon, 8-10 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.
  • Assemble the lasagna: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9 x 13 x 3-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
  • Add no-boil lasagna noodles to a large baking dish or bowl. Cover with hot water and add the olive oil. Let sit for 5-10 minutes, until the noodles are a bit more pliable, but still snap when broken in half.
  • Spread about ¾ cup of the meat sauce on the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Add a layer of lasagna noodles. Spread about 1 heaping cup of béchamel over noodles in an even layer. Top with 1 heaping cup of meat sauce, followed by ¼ cup fontina and ¼ cup grated mozzarella. Add another layer of noodles, arranging in the opposite direction as the first layer, and top with about 1 heaping cup of béchamel. Repeat to make 4 more layers, ending with a layer of lasagna noodles.
  • Spread 1 cup of béchamel, then 1 cup of meat sauce over the noodles. Scatter the remaining ½ cup of fontina, the fresh mozzarella cheese, and grated Parmigiano-Reggiano on top. Reserve the remaining meat sauce for serving. Cover the baking dish with a sheet of foil (grease the underside with nonstick spray to prevent the cheese from sticking) and place on a rimmed baking sheet.
  • Bake the lasagna for 30 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for another 25-30 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbling. Broil for 1-2 minutes, if desired, to brown the cheese. Remove from the oven and let the lasagna sit for at least 20 minutes to cool.
  • Garnish the lasagna with the basil, then serve with the reserved meat sauce alongside.
  • Enjoy!

Tips:

  • For a richer flavor, use a combination of ground beef and Italian sausage.
  • Brown the meat in a large skillet over medium-high heat until it is no longer pink.
  • Drain the excess grease from the meat before adding it to the sauce.
  • Use a variety of vegetables in your sauce, such as onions, carrots, celery, and garlic.
  • Simmer the sauce for at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 hours, to allow the flavors to meld.
  • Season the sauce with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning to taste.
  • Serve the sauce over lasagna noodles, spaghetti, or your favorite pasta.

Conclusion:

With these tips in mind, you can create a delicious and flavorful meat sauce that will be the perfect addition to your next Italian meal. So get cooking, and enjoy!

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