The Best Lasagna Ever

(from saira’s recipe box)

Source: The Pioneer Woman Cooks

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
  • 1 pound hot breakfast sausage
  • 2 cloves minced garlic
  • 2 14.5-oz cans of whole tomatoes
  • 2 6-oz cans of tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoons of dried parsley flakes
  • 2 tablespoons dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 10-oz package of lasagna noodles
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt to the water
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 cups lowfat cottage cheese
  • 2 beaten eggs
  • 1/2 cup Kraft Parmesan Cheese
  • 2 tablespoons dried parsley flakes
  • 1 teaspoon salt.

Directions

  1. In a skillet, combine 1 1/2 pounds ground beef, 1 pound hot breakfast sausage, and 2 cloves minced garlic. Cook until brown. Drain about half the fat.

  2. ter that, add two 14.5-oz cans of whole tomatoes, two 6-oz cans of tomato paste, 2 tablespoons of dried parsley flakes, 2 tablespoons dried basil, And 1 teaspoon salt.

  3. Mix together thoroughly and simmer, uncovered, about 45 minutes…Stirring occasionally.

  4. In the meantime, boil a 10-oz package of lasagna noodles. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt to the water, as well as 1 tablespoon olive oil to keep the noodles from sticking. Cook the noodles “al dente” so they’ll still have quite a bite to them. When they’re finished cooking, drain, rinse with cool water, and lay the noodles flat on a sheet of aluminum foil. That way, they’ll be easier to handle later.

  5. While the meat mixture and noodles are cooking, mix 3 cups lowfat cottage cheese in a bowl with 2 beaten eggs. To the cottage cheese, add 1/2 cup Kraft Parmesan Cheese. 2 tablespoons dried parsley flakes, and 1 teaspoon salt. Mix together well.

  6. Now, go ahead and build your assembly line: meat mixture, 1 pound sliced mozzarella cheese, cottage cheese mixture, and cooked lasagna noodles.

  7. Lay four cooked lasagna noodles in the bottom of the pan, overlapping as you go.

  8. Spread half of the cottage cheese mixture evenly over the noodles… Then lay 1/2 pound of mozzarella cheese slices on top of the cottage cheese mixture. This particular brand of cheese was cut very thin, so I had to double up the slices to make 1/2 pound. Don’t let this throw you off—some brands are cut thicker, and would only require a single layer of slices. NOTE: I prefer sliced mozzarella, but you can certainly use grated mozzarella if necessary.

  9. With the spoon, make a line through the middle of the meat mixture so you’ll distribute it evenly.

  10. Spread a little less than half of the meat mixture over the mozzarella cheese slices until it’s evenly distributed.

  11. Now it’s time to repeat the process! Add another layer of four lasagna noodles and top with the remaining half of the cottage cheese mixture.

  12. Then top the cottage cheese mixture with another 1/2 pound of mozzarella. And finish with the rest of the meat mixture. Spread evenly.

  13. Now grab that trusty-rusty container of good ol’ Kraft Parmesan Cheese and start sprinklin’! Top with a pretty generous layer.

  14. Now pop it in a 350-degree oven for 20-30 minutes, until hot and bubbly. (Alternately, you could cover and freeze it, unbaked, at this point. OR cover and refrigerate, unbaked, for up to two days before baking.)

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