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Easy Lasagna Recipe

With 3 cheeses and a meaty ground beef sauce, it's easy to see why so many of our readers have proclaimed this the best lasagna recipe they've ever had.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Resting Time 30 minutes
Calories: 373

Ingredients
  

Ingredients for Lasagna
  • 1 lb ground beef (15-20% fat content)
  • 1 medium onion finely diced
  • 2 large garlic cloves minced
  • 1/4 cup dry red wine or beef broth
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 28 oz Marinara Sauce (3 cups)
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper ground
  • 1/4 tsp dried thyme
  • 1/2 tsp granulated sugar
  • 2 Tbsp parsley finely chopped
  • 9 lasagna noodles cooked al dente
Ingredients for Cheese Sauce:
  • 16 oz low-fat cottage cheese
  • 15 oz reduced fat ricotta cheese
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 Tbsp parsley finely chopped, plus more to garnish
  • 4 cups mozzarella cheese shredded, divided

Method
 

How to Make Meat Sauce:
  1. Place a deep pan or dutch oven over medium/high heat and add 1 Tbsp olive oil, 1 lb ground beef and diced onion. Saute, breaking up the meat, for 5 minutes or until beef is no longer pink. Add pressed garlic and sauté another minute until fragrant.
  2. Add 1/4 cup wine and stir for 2 minutes or until wine is nearly evaporated. Add 3 cups marinara, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper, 1/4 tsp thyme, 1/2 tsp sugar and 2 Tbsp parsley. Bring to a simmer, then cover and cook 5 minutes.
How to Make Cheese Sauce:
  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine 16 oz Cottage Cheese, 15 oz Ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella, 1 egg and 2 Tbsp parsley. Mix well.
How to Make Lasagna:
  1. Preheat oven to 375˚F. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add salt and 9 lasagna noodles. Cook until al dente according to package instructions then drain and pour in cold water to stop the cooking process and prevent sticking.
  2. Spread 1/2 cup meat sauce in the bottom of a deep 9×13 casserole dish. Add 3 noodles, spread on 1/3 of the meat sauce, and sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Spoon on and spread the top with 1/2 of your cheese sauce. Repeat until you have 3 layers of noodles.
  3. Poke 9-12 toothpicks over the surface of your lasagna (to keep the foil from sticking to the cheese). Cover with foil and bake at 375˚F for 45 minutes.
  4. Remove foil and broil for 3 to 5 minutes, or until cheese turns golden. Let lasagna rest 30 min before slicing.