The Ultimate Lasagna Recipe

A large piece of meat lovers lasagna served up on a plate.

4.87 from 37 votes

The Ultimate Lasagna Recipe is a hearty, stick-to-your-ribs kind of meal. Combining three different kinds of meat and three different kinds of cheese with lasagna noodles and an easy homemade sauce, this one will be your go-to lasagna recipe. So good!

Course Main Dish

Cuisine Italian

Keyword meat lovers lasagna, the ultimate lasagna recipe

Prep Time 40

Cook Time 45

Total Time 1 25

Servings Servings

Calories 640kcal

Author Sue Ringsdorf

Ingredients

15 lasagna noodles

For the meat sauce:

1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion
3 cloves garlic
salt and pepper - to taste
1 pound Lean ground beef
1 pound Italian sausage
28 oz. crushed tomatoes
15 oz. diced fire-roasted tomatoes
3-4 Tablespoons tomato paste
3/4 cup broth - chicken or beef
2 teaspoons dried Italian Seasoning
1 teaspoon dried basil
2 teaspoons sugar
5 oz. pepperoni

For the cheese layer:

15 oz. ricotta cheese
16 oz. mozzarella cheese - divided
4 oz. freshly grated parmesan cheese - divided
1 egg

Instructions

Boil noodles until al dente. Drain and rinse. Lay flat on clean dish towel.
15 lasagna noodles
In a mixing bowl, combine the ricotta, 10 oz. of mozzarella cheese, and 2 oz. of parmesan cheese. Add egg and mix well. Keep in refrigerator until ready to assemble lasagna.
15 oz. ricotta cheese, 16 oz. mozzarella cheese, 4 oz. freshly grated parmesan cheese, 1 egg
Heat olive oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook until soft. Add garlic, ground beef, sausage, salt, and pepper (to taste) - and cook until browned. Drain excess fat and return meat to pan.
1 Tablespoon olive oil, 1 medium onion, 3 cloves garlic, 1 pound Lean ground beef, 1 pound Italian sausage, salt and pepper
Add crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, broth, tomato paste, sugar, and seasonings. Simmer on medium low for 20 - 30 minutes, or until reduced slightly. Remove from heat, add pepperoni, and cool slightly.
28 oz. crushed tomatoes, 15 oz. diced fire-roasted tomatoes, 3/4 cup broth, 3-4 Tablespoons tomato paste, 2 teaspoons sugar, 2 teaspoons dried Italian Seasoning, 1 teaspoon dried basil, 5 oz. pepperoni
To assemble lasagna, add a small amount of sauce to bottom of pan. Layer noodles, meat sauce, and cheese mixture. Repeat three times, and add remaining mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese to the top.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake lasagna (covered) for 30 minutes or so. Then remove cover and cook for another 10-15 minutes, or until top is slightly browned.
Let the lasagna sit in the pan for about 15-20 minutes before slicing it. This will allow the juices to absorb into the pasta and the servings will hold their shape.

Notes

This lasagna freezes well. Just assemble, wrap tightly in saran wrap and freezer bag, and freeze. To defrost, set in refrigerator for a couple of days until no longer frozen.

Nutrition