World's Best Lasagna

This lasagna recipe from John Chandler is our most popular recipe! With sausage, ground beef, basil, and 3 types of cheese, it lives up to its name!

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 2 hr 30 mins
• Total Time: 3 hr
• Calories: 448 Calories

Ingredients

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

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

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

Step 2

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 3

Gather all your ingredients.

Step 4

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

Step 5

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

Step 6

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 7

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

Step 8

Rest lasagna for 15 minutes before serving.

Step 9

Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, and water. Season with sugar, 2 tablespoons parsley, basil, 1 teaspoon salt, Italian seasoning, fennel seeds, and pepper. Simmer, covered, for about 1 ½ hours, stirring occasionally.

Step 10

To assemble, spread 1 ½ 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 ½ cups meat sauce over mozzarella, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.