Meat and cheese lasagna

Meat and cheese lasagna is a delicious and hearty Italian dish typically made with layers of lasagna noodles, a rich meat sauce, and plenty of cheese. Here’s a basic recipe to make a meat and cheese lasagna:

Ingredients:

• 9 lasagna noodles (oven-ready or pre-cooked according to package instructions)
• 1 pound ground beef or ground Italian sausage
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
• 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 teaspoons dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 cups ricotta cheese
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. In a large skillet, cook the ground beef (or Italian sausage) over medium heat until it’s browned. Drain any excess fat.
3. Add the chopped onions and minced garlic to the skillet and cook for a few minutes until the onions are soft.
4. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, water, dried basil, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Simmer for about 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. In a separate bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, 1 1/2 cups of mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg, chopped parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
6. To assemble the lasagna, spread a thin layer of the meat sauce on the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.
7. Place three lasagna noodles on top of the sauce.
8. Spread a third of the cheese mixture over the noodles.
9. Add a third of the meat sauce on top of the cheese mixture.
10. Repeat this process two more times, ending with a layer of meat sauce on top.
11. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese over the final layer of meat sauce.
12. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 25-30 minutes.
13. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
14. Let the lasagna rest for about 10-15 minutes before serving.

Slice your meat and cheese lasagna into portions and enjoy! This classic Italian comfort food is perfect for a family dinner or a gathering with friends. You can customize it by adding other ingredients like sliced mushrooms, spinach, or bell peppers to the meat sauce for extra flavor and nutrition.