My Favorite Lasagna Recipe

curtesy of Allrecipes World's Best Lasagna

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World's Best Lasagna

This lasagna recipe takes a little work, but it is no surprise why it is Garfield's favorite. It is a classic, and a favorite of mine.

When John Chandler submitted this lasagna recipe to Allrecipes more than 20 years ago, he had no idea how successful it would become. One of our top performing recipes of all time, World's Best Lasagna racks up more than 7 million views per year and has ranked among the most popular lasagna recipes on the internet for two decades. Unfortunately, John unexpectedly passed away at 53 years old - read all about his life and legacy here.

Make our most popular lasagna today to find out what all the fuss is about!

How to Make Lasagna

Making lasagna can be time-consuming, but the results are well worth the wait. You'll find a detailed ingredient list and step-by-step instructions in the recipe below, but let's go over the basics:

Lasagna Ingredients

The Allrecipes community adores this lasagna recipe because it's incredibly customizable, so you can easily alter the ingredient list to suit your needs. If you want to stay true to the original recipe, though, these are the ingredients you'll need to add to your grocery list:

• Meat: This super meaty lasagna has sweet Italian sausage and lean ground beef.
• Onion and garlic: An onion and two cloves of garlic are cooked with the meat to add tons of flavor.
• Tomato products: You'll need a can of crushed tomatoes, two cans of tomato sauce, and two cans of tomato paste.
• Sugar: Two tablespoons of white sugar add subtle sweetness and enhance the flavor of the sauce.
• Spices and seasonings: This lasagna recipe is flavored with fresh parsley, dried basil, salt, Italian seasoning, fennel seeds, and black pepper.
• Lasagna noodles: Use store-bought or homemade lasagna noodles
• Cheeses: Parmesan, mozzarella, and ricotta cheese make this lasagna extra decadent.
• Egg: An egg helps bind the ricotta so it doesn't ooze out of the lasagna when you cut into it.

How to Make Lasagna step-by-step

Here's a very brief overview of what you can expect when you make homemade lasagna:

1. Make the meat sauce.
2. Cook the noodles.
3. Make the ricotta mixture.
4. Layer the lasagna according to the recipe instructions.
5. Cover with foil and bake.
6. Let the lasagna rest before serving.

How to Layer Lasagna

The detailed layering instruction can be found in the recipe below, but this is the order you'll follow:

1. Meat sauce
2. Noodles
3. Ricotta mixture
4. Mozzarella slices
5. Meat sauce
6. Parmesan cheese
7. Repeat the layers, then top with the remaining Parmesan.

How long to Cook Lasagna

The assembled lasagna should take about 50 minutes to cook in an oven preheated to 375 degrees F. Cover it with foil for the first 25 minutes, then let it cook uncovered for the final 25 minutes. Also, it's important to let the lasagna rest at room temperature for about 15 minutes before you cut into it.

What to Serve with Lasagna

Wondering what goes with lasagna? We've got you covered. Check out our collection of 12 Easy Side Dishes for Lasagna for delicious serving inspiration.

These are a few of the recipes you'll find:

• Two-Ingredient Garlic Knots
• Arugula-Fennel Salad
• Balsamic Grilled Zucchini

How to Reheat Lasagna

You can use the microwave to reheat lasagna if you're in a pinch or short on time, but be aware that it will change the texture of the noodles. The best way to reheat lasagna is in the oven. Simply cover the leftovers with foil and bake at 350 degrees F for about half an hour, or until it's heated through and the sauce is bubbly.

How to Freeze Lasagna

If you're planning to freeze lasagna, it's best to cook it in a foil backing dish. Allow the casserole to cool, then cover the whole thing in at least one layer of storage wrap. Wrap it again in aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn. Freeze for up to three months.

How to Reheat Frozen Lasagna

Thaw the frozen lasagna in the refrigerator overnight, then follow the reheating instructions above. If you don't have time to thaw in the fridge, you can reheat it from frozen -- just make sure to add a few minutes to the cook time to ensure the dish is heated through.

Learn more: How to Freeze the 10 Most Common Leftovers

Ingredients

Original recipe yields 12 servings

• 1 pound sweet Italian sausage
• 3/4 pound lean ground beef
• 1/2 Cup minced onion
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 2 (6.5 ounce) cans canned tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, divided
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil leaves
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, divided, or to taste
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 12 lasagna noodles
• 16 ounces ricotta cheese
• 1 egg
• 3/4 pound mozzarella cheese, sliced
• 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

Step 1

Gather all your ingredients.

Step 2

Cook sausage, ground beef, onion, and garlic in a Dutch oven over medium heat until well browned.

Step 3

Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, and water. Season with sugar, 2 tablespoons parsley, basil, 2 teaspoon salt, Italian seasoning, fennel seeds, and pepper. Simmer, covered for about 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally

Step 4

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.

Step 5

In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese with egg, remaining 2 tablespoons parsley, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.

Step 6

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

Step 7

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, overlapping slightly. Spread with 1/2 of the ricotta cheese mixture. Top with 1/3 of the mozzarella cheese slices. Spoon 1 1/2 cups meat sauce over mozzarella, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese.

Step 8

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.

Step 9

Bake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 25 minutes.

Step 10

Rest lasagna for 15 minutes before serving.