Lasagna, a classic Italian dish, is a delightful culinary experience that tantalizes taste buds and warms the soul. With its layers of savory fillings, rich sauces, and melted cheese, it's a dish that satisfies both the hungry and the gourmet. Whether you're a seasoned cook or just starting your culinary journey, creating the best ever lasagna is a rewarding endeavor that brings family and friends together. In this comprehensive guide, we'll embark on a culinary journey to discover the secrets and techniques that will elevate your lasagna to new heights of flavor and satisfaction. From selecting the perfect ingredients to mastering the art of layering, we'll guide you through every step of the process, ensuring that your next lasagna is nothing short of extraordinary. So, prepare your taste buds and let's begin our exploration into the realm of lasagna mastery!
Here are our top 9 tried and tested recipes!
THE BEST EVER LASAGNA
My brother, Joe, created this lasagna based on our mom's recipe. It's a family favorite at Christmas, thanks to the special ingredients that make it magnifico. -Stephanie Marchese, Taste of Home Visual Production Director
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 3h45m
Yield 15 servings
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- In a Dutch oven, cook onion in olive oil over medium heat until tender, 4-5 minutes. Add garlic; cook 1 minute. Stir in tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, 3-4 minutes. Add crushed tomatoes, water, fresh basil, 2 teaspoons sugar and salt. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Simmer 1 hour, stirring occasionally., Meanwhile, cook bulk sausage in a skillet over medium heat until no longer pink, breaking into crumbles, 8-10 minutes; drain. Add to sauce; simmer until mixture is thickened, about 1 hour longer., While sauce simmers, preheat oven to 350°. Place sausage links on a rimmed baking sheet; roast until cooked through, 35-40 minutes. Remove and let cool slightly; slice into 1/4-in.-thick pieces., In a small bowl, mix ricotta cheese, 1 cup mozzarella cheese, egg, dried basil and remaining sugar., In a greased 13x9-in. baking dish, spread 2 cups sauce. Arrange 4 noodles over sauce; spread with a third of the ricotta mixture. Add 7 provolone slices, a third of the sliced sausage and 1-1/2 cups mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers 2 more times, using only 1 cup sauce per layer. Spread with 2 cups sauce (reserve remaining sauce for serving on the side), remaining 2-1/2 cups mozzarella cheese and the Parmesan cheese (dish will be full)., Place dish on a rimmed baking sheet and bake, uncovered, until bubbly and deep golden brown, 60-65 minutes. Let stand 15 minutes before serving. Serve with remaining meat sauce.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 509 calories, Fat 33g fat (15g saturated fat), Cholesterol 106mg cholesterol, Sodium 1185mg sodium, Carbohydrate 27g carbohydrate (9g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 29g protein.
THE MOST AMAZING LASAGNA RECIPE
The Most Amazing Lasagna Recipe is the best recipe for homemade Italian-style lasagna. The balance between layers of cheese, noodles, and homemade bolognese sauce is perfection!
Provided by Rachel Farnsworth
Categories Main Dish
Time 2h20m
Number Of Ingredients 23
Steps:
- In a large pot over medium heat, add in ground sausage and ground beef. Use a spoon to break up the meat into small pieces. Add in onion and garlic and cook until meat is well browned, stirring constantly. Stir in sugar, fresh basil, fennel, oregano, 1/2 teaspoon salt, pepper, and 1/4 cup chopped parsley. Pour in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and wine*. Stir well and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and simmer 1-4 hours, stirring occasionally.
- Meanwhile, place lasagna noodles into the bottom of a pan. Pour hot tap water directly over the noodles, making sure the pasta is completely immersed in the water. Let them soak for 30 minutes, then drain and discard water.
- In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese with egg, remaining 2 tablespoons parsley, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and nutmeg. Refrigerate until ready to assemble lasagna.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease a deep 9x13 pan.
- To assemble, spread about 1 cup of meat sauce in the bottom of the prepared pan. Place 4 noodles on top. Spread with 1/3 of the ricotta cheese mixture. Top with 1/4 of mozzarella cheese slices. Spoon 1 1/2 cups meat sauce over mozzarella, then sprinkle with 1/4 cup parmesan cheese. Repeat layering two more times to create three complete layers. To finish, place a final layer of pasta, topped with another 1 cup of meat sauce to cover the pasta. Top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Cover loosely with aluminum foil.
- Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil, and bake an additional 25 minutes to allow cheese to brown. Serve hot.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 834 kcal, Carbohydrate 54 g, Protein 63 g, Fat 39 g, SaturatedFat 19 g, Cholesterol 174 mg, Sodium 1514 mg, Fiber 3 g, Sugar 6 g, ServingSize 1 serving
BEST LASAGNA
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
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
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
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
A long-simmered beef ragu lets the brightness of the tomatoes shine through while developing a meaty richness. Our ricotta is mixed with nutty Parmesan that tempers the sharp garlic and adds flavor. We worked hard to get the right balance of the ricotta and tomato sauce in the layers since each element has their own voice. Our lasagna also uses less mozzarella than many other recipes - we prefer the creaminess of ricotta over the stringiness of melted mozzarella. Look for the shorter noodles - you won't need to cut them when assembling the lasagna.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories main-dish
Time 5h
Yield 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 21
Steps:
- Place the beef in a large bowl and "pull" it apart with two forks as if you were shredding pulled pork, breaking up the clumps and loosening the meat without compacting it.
- Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add the pancetta and cook, stirring occasionally, until the fat has rendered and the meat is golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer the pancetta to a large bowl with a slotted spoon, leaving the fat in the pot.
- Spread the beef in an even layer in the same pot and cook undisturbed until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Toss and continue to cook, breaking up any clumps and scraping up any browned bits from the pot, until the meat is browned and completely cooked, 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer the browned meat with a slotted spoon to the bowl with the pancetta, leaving the fat in the pot.
- Reduce the heat to medium. Add the carrots, celery, onions, half the garlic, the bay leaf, oregano, red pepper flakes, nutmeg, 2 teaspoons salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper to the pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender but not browned, 6 to 8 minutes.
- Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly, until it's very fragrant and brick red colored, about 2 minutes. Stir in the wine, bring to a boil and reduce until the liquid is very thick and no smell of alcohol remains, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the tomatoes and the reserved pancetta and beef, bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to low. Add the basil and Parmesan rind and simmer, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid has evaporated and the sauce resembles sloppy joes, 2 to 2 1/2 hours. There shouldn't be any rapid bubbles while cooking. Instead, the ragu should release occasional small bubbles. If the ragu reduces too quickly, add 1/2 cup of water and continue cooking. Repeat if necessary. The ragu needs the full 2 to 2 1/2 hour cook time to develop the flavors.
- Discard the bay leaf, basil and Parmesan rind. Break up any remaining clumps of meat with the back of a spoon, making an even textured sauce. Season with salt and set aside until ready to assemble.
- Arrange a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Cook the noodles, stirring occasionally and separating them to prevent sticking, until softened and bendable but are still hard and chalky in the center, about 5 minutes. Transfer the noodles to a large bowl of cold water and set aside until ready to assemble.
- Stir together the ricotta, 1 cup of the Parmesan, the remaining grated garlic and 2 teaspoons salt in a medium bowl until thoroughly combined. Set aside until ready to assemble.
- Lightly oil a 13-by-9-inch glass or ceramic baking pan. Spread 1 cup of the ragu evenly in the bottom of the pan. Lay a single layer of noodles over the ragu (if you're using long noodles, you will need to cut some noodles to fill the gaps). Spread 1 1/2 cups of the ragu over the noodles. Dollop 3/4 cup of the ricotta mixture over the ragu and spread lightly with a small offset spatula. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of the mozzarella, followed by another layer of noodles. Repeat with the remaining pasta, ragu, ricotta mixture and mozzarella, creating 4 layers of pasta and ending with the remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella. (The lasagna should come just above the top of the pan but it will sink down slightly as it cooks.) Top with the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan.
- Lightly oil a piece of foil and cover the pan. Put the pan on a rimmed baking sheet to catch any drips. Bake the lasagna until bubbling gently around the edges, about 1 hour.
- Remove the lasagna from the oven and increase the oven temperature to 450 degrees F. Remove the foil and then continue to bake the lasagna until the top is browned and crisp around the edges, 15 to 20 minutes.
- Let sit 10 minutes before serving.
THE BEST LASAGNA RECIPE BY TASTY
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
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!
THE BEST LASAGNA EVER (COURTESY OF PIONEER WOMAN)
"I'm sure everyone has his own favorite lasagna recipe, but I'd just like to offer that this really is The Best Lasagna Ever. Part of its appeal is that the ingredients used are totally basic; you don't have to hunt down fresh basil or buffalo mozzarella or Parmigiano-Reggiano or handmade sausage from from an Italian mama in old Napoli. Anyone can make this, anywhere, anytime. And it's the easiest thing in the world." Aside from the simplicity and availability of ingredients, however, this lasagna is just dadgum good.
Provided by FeelinYummy
Categories < 60 Mins
Time 1h
Yield 12 , 12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Meanwhile, in a large skillet or saucepan, combine ground beef, sausage, and garlic.
- Cook over medium-high heat until browned.
- Drain half the fat; less if you're feeling naughty.
- Add tomatoes, tomato paste, 2 tablespoons parsley, basil and salt.
- Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, mix cottage cheese, beaten eggs, grated Parmesan, 2 more tablespoons parsley, and 1 more teaspoon salt.
- Stir together well, set aside.
- Cook lasagna until "al dente" (not overly cooked).
- To assemble:.
- Arrange 4 cooked lasagna noodles in the bottom of a baking pan, overlapping if necessary.
- Spoon half the cottage cheese mixture over the noodles, spread evenly.
- Cover cottage cheese with a layer of mozzarella cheese.
- Spoon a little less than half the meat mixture over the top.
- Repeat, ending with meat mixture.
- Sprinkle top generously with extra Parmesan.
- Either freeze, refrigerate for up to two days, or bake immediately:
- 350-degree oven for 20 to 30 minutes, or until top is hot and bubbly.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 575.5, Fat 32.8, SaturatedFat 14.4, Cholesterol 147, Sodium 1466.1, Carbohydrate 29.1, Fiber 3.2, Sugar 6.5, Protein 40.6
ABSOLUTE BEST EVER LASAGNA
My family's favorite. This is a very meaty lasagna. We prefer it with cottage cheese, but you can easily substitute ricotta.
Provided by ratherbeswimmin
Categories Cheese
Time 2h30m
Yield 12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Brown ground meat, onion and garlic.
- Add salt, pepper, parsley, oregano, basil, chopped tomatoes with juice, tomato paste; stirring until well mixed.
- Cover and simmer 1 hour (or longer,but watch for getting too dry).
- Cook lasagna noodles according to package directions; drain and set aside.
- Spray a 13 x 9" baking pan with cooking spray.
- Combine riccota cheese, eggs, pepper, 2 tablespoons parsley, Parmesan cheese and 1/2 1lb of mozzarella cheese; In a lasagna pan, layer noodles, meat sauce, and cheese mixture; repeat.
- Top off with layer of noodles; sprinkle evenly with remaining mozzarella cheese; make sure to cover noodles completely.
- Bake at 375F for 40-60 minutes, or until cheese mixture is thoroughly melted. (I cover w/ foil for about 40 minutes, then uncover for 15-20 minutes.
- Let sit for 15-20 minutes before cutting and serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 540.5, Fat 29.6, SaturatedFat 15.1, Cholesterol 142.3, Sodium 1054.7, Carbohydrate 30.9, Fiber 3.3, Sugar 7.4, Protein 37.8
THE BEST LAYERED LASAGNA RECIPE BY TASTY
Here's what you need: olive oil, butter, onion, large carrot, celery stalk, ground beef, ground pork, salt, pepper, can of tomato paste, red wine, diced tomato, ricotta cheese, fresh basil, shredded parmesan cheese, fresh parsley, egg, salt, pepper, lasagna noodle, shredded mozzarella cheese
Provided by Matthew Johnson
Categories Lunch
Yield 12 servings
Number Of Ingredients 21
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Add the olive oil and butter to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once warmed, add the onion, carrot, celery, and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, 10-12 minutes. Once the vegetables have caramelized, add the beef, pork, salt, pepper, and tomato paste. Stir to combine, breaking up the pieces of meat, until the meat has browned, 15-20 minutes.
- Once the sauce is dark brown and starting to stick slightly to the bottom of the pan, add the red wine. Scrape the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon to release all the cooked brown bits. Once the wine comes to a simmer, add the diced canned tomatoes, and stir to combine. Bring the sauce to a simmer and cook for at least 30 minutes (the longer the better!) stirring occasionally.
- In a large bowl, mix together the ricotta, basil, Parmesan, parsley, egg, salt, and pepper.
- In a 9x13-inch (23x33 cm) glass baking dish, add a layer of bolognese to the bottom. Top with noodles, then spread a layer of the ricotta mixture on top. Repeat with another layer of bolognese, noodles, ricotta, noodles, bolognese, then top with mozzarella and additional Parmesan. Cover the pan with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake for another 15 minutes, until the cheese on top has browned and the bolognese is bubbling. Slice and serve.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 550 calories, Carbohydrate 31 grams, Fat 26 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 33 grams, Sugar 6 grams
Recipes:
- Classic Lasagna: A traditional lasagna with a rich, creamy bechamel, meaty tomato, and cheesy top.
- Light and Healthy Lasagna: A healthier lasagna with spinach, zucchini, and ricotta, and lower in calories.
- Vegetarian Lasagna: A meatless lasagna with roasted eggplant, zucchini, and sweet peppers, and a creamy pesto.
- Baked Lasagna Rolls: A creative take on lasagna, with lasagna noodles filled with ricotta, spinach, and mozzarella, then baked in a tomato cream.
- Lasagna Soup: A comforting and easy lasagna-inspired meal, with all the flavors of lasagna in a creamy, hearty broth.
Conclusion:
Lasagna is a classic dish, with many different easy and creative ways to enjoy it. These lasagna tips provide different ways to enjoy this dish, no matter your dietary needs or taste. - Don't boil lasagna noodles fully - they should still be al-dente when taken out of the water. - Using fresh lasagna noodles will make the dish richer and more flavorful, but they are more time-consuming than using the packaged kind. - Use a cheese mix for your lasagna, using ricotta, mozzarella, or grated Parmesan cheese. - Let the lasagna cool slightly before serving so it will settle and slices easily. - Be creative with your lasagna - try different meats, cheeses, and sauces, and add-in ingredients like roasted eggplant, zucchini, or even pesto.
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