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Flavour Quest Recipes

🍝 Hearty Baked Lasagna

Hearty baked lasagna is a comforting, oven-baked classic layered with tender pasta, rich meat sauce, creamy cheese, and bold Italian flavor. Perfect for family dinners or make-ahead meals, this satisfying dish delivers cozy comfort in every bite.
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients
  

  • For the Meat Sauce:
  • 1 lb Ground beef
  • 1/2 lb Italian sausage (optional for flavor)
  • 1 Small onion finely chopped
  • 3 Cloves garlic minced
  • 1 can Tomatoes 28 oz, crushed
  • 2 tbsp Tomato paste
  • 1 can Tomato sauce 15 oz
  • 2 tsp Basil dried
  • 1 tsp Oregano
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1/4 tsp Black pepper
  • 1 tsp sugar (to balance acidity)
  • For the Cheese Filling:
  • 15 oz Ricotta cheese
  • 1 Egg large
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese grated
  • 2 tbsp Parsley fresh, chopped
  • 1/2 tsp Salt to taste
  • Additional Layers:
  • 9 Lasagna noodles (cooked and drained)
  • 3 cups Mozzarella cheese shredded
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese (for topping)

Method
 

  1. Preheat Oven
    Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
  2. Make the Meat Sauce
    In a large skillet, cook ground beef, sausage, and onion over medium heat until browned. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and seasonings. Simmer uncovered for 15–20 minutes.
  3. Prepare the Cheese Mixture
    In a medium bowl, mix ricotta cheese, egg, Parmesan cheese, parsley, and salt until smooth.
  4. Assemble the Lasagna
    Spread 1 cup of sauce on the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Add a layer of noodles, then spread a layer of ricotta mixture, followed by sauce and a sprinkle of mozzarella. Repeat layers (noodles → ricotta → sauce → mozzarella) until all ingredients are used, ending with sauce and remaining mozzarella on top. Sprinkle Parmesan.
  5. Bake
    Cover with foil (to prevent burning) and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 15–20 minutes, until cheese is bubbly and golden.
  6. Bake
    Cover with foil (to prevent burning) and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 15–20 minutes, until cheese is bubbly and golden.