Main Dishes Pasta Lasagna Recipes Meat Lasagna Recipes World's Best Lasagna 4.8 (20,496) 14,733 Reviews 2,743 Photos This lasagna recipe takes a little work, but it is so satisfying and filling that it's worth it! Submitted by John Chandler Updated on February 14, 2024 Tested by Allrecipes Test Kitchen Tested by Allrecipes Test Kitchen The Allrecipes Test Kitchen staff are a team of culinary pros who make and vet recipes using only equipment you'd find in a home kitchen. Staff credentials vary but include training at the Culinary Institute of America; kitchen stints in fine dining restaurants; and countless hours in the test kitchen itself. Meet the Allrecipes Test Kitchen Save Rate Print Share 2,743 2,743 2,743 2,743 2,743 When John Chandler submitted this lasagna recipe to Allrecipes more than 20 years ago, he had no idea how successful it would become. One of our top-performing recipes of all time, World's Best Lasagna racks up more than 7 million views per year and has ranked among the most popular lasagna recipes on the internet for two decades. Unfortunately, John unexpectedly passed away at 53 years old — read all about his life and legacy here. Make our most popular lasagna today to find out what all the fuss is about! Allrecipes Magazine How to Make Lasagna Making lasagna can be time-consuming, but the results are well worth the wait. You'll find a detailed ingredient list and step-by-step instructions in the recipe below, but let's go over the basics: Lasagna Ingredients The Allrecipes community adores this lasagna recipe because it's incredibly customizable, so you can easily alter the ingredient list to suit your needs. If you want to stay true to the original recipe, though, these are the ingredients you'll need to add to your grocery list: Meat: This super meaty lasagna has sweet Italian sausage and lean ground beef. Onion and garlic: An onion and two cloves of garlic are cooked with the meat to add tons of flavor. Tomato products: You'll need a can of crushed tomatoes, two cans of tomato sauce, and two cans of tomato paste. Sugar: Two tablespoons of white sugar add subtle sweetness and enhance the flavor of the sauce. Spices and seasonings: This lasagna recipe is flavored with fresh parsley, dried basil leaves, salt, Italian seasoning, fennel seeds, and black pepper. Lasagna noodles: Use store-bought or homemade lasagna noodles. Cheeses: Parmesan, mozzarella, and ricotta cheese make this lasagna extra decadent. Egg: An egg helps bind the ricotta so it doesn't ooze out of the lasagna when you cut into it. How to Make Lasagna Step-By-Step Here's a very brief overview of what you can expect when you make homemade lasagna: Make the meat sauce.Cook the noodles.Make the ricotta mixture.Layer the lasagna according to the recipe instructions.Cover with foil and bake.Let the lasagna rest before serving. How to Layer Lasagna The detailed layering instructions can be found in the recipe below, but this is the order you'll follow: Meat sauceNoodlesRicotta mixtureMozzarella slicesMeat sauceParmesan cheeseRepeat the layers, then top with the remaining Parmesan. How Long to Cook Lasagna The assembled lasagna should take about 50 minutes to cook in an oven preheated to 375 degrees F. Cover it with foil for the first 25 minutes, then let it cook uncovered for the final 25 minutes. Also, it's important to let the lasagna rest at room temperature for about 15 minutes before you cut into it. What to Serve With Lasagna Wondering what goes with lasagna? We've got you covered. Check out our collection of 12 Easy Side Dishes for Lasagna for delicious serving inspiration. These are a few of the recipes you'll find: Two-Ingredient Garlic Knots Arugula-Fennel Salad Balsamic Grilled Zucchini thedailygourmet How to Reheat Lasagna You can use the microwave to reheat lasagna if you're in a pinch or short on time, but be aware that it will change the texture of the noodles. The best way to reheat lasagna is in the oven. Simply cover the leftovers with foil and bake at 350 degrees F for about half an hour, or until it's heated through and the sauce is bubbly. How to Freeze Lasagna If you're planning to freeze lasagna, it's best to cook it in a foil baking dish. Allow the casserole to cool, then cover the whole thing in at least one layer of storage wrap. Wrap it again in aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn. Freeze for up to three months. How to Reheat Frozen Lasagna Thaw the frozen lasagna in the refrigerator overnight, then follow the reheating instructions above. If you don't have time to thaw in the fridge, you can reheat it from frozen — just make sure to add a few minutes to the cook time to ensure the dish is heated through. Learn more: How to Freeze the 10 Most Common Leftovers Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise "We live in St. Louis where we have fabulous Italian food," says meyerrachelle. "This lasagna could've come from any of the well-known restaurants in our area. My family was raving about it! The sauce is absolutely amazing! This is definitely a keeper! It lives up to its name." "The sweet Italian sausage and ground beef combo along with the sauce were very flavorful," says one Allrecipes community member. "Yeah it may take a while but it is so worth it. Team it with garlic bread and a salad and you'll be very satisfied." "Absolutely phenomenal," raves Amanda Simopoulos. "Fair warning: once you've made this, going back to a frozen lasagna will be impossible. It is somewhat time consuming but not difficult. My house smells delectable every time I make it! Editorial contributions by Corey Williams World's Best Lasagna 4.8 (20,496) Prep Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs 30 mins Additional Time: 15 mins Total Time: 3 hrs 15 mins Servings: 12 Save Rate Print Share Ingredients 1 pound sweet Italian sausage ¾ pound lean ground beef ½ cup minced onion 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes 2 (6.5 ounce) cans canned tomato sauce 2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste ½ cup water 2 tablespoons white sugar 4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, divided 1 ½ teaspoons dried basil leaves 1 ½ teaspoons salt, divided, or to taste 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning ½ teaspoon fennel seeds ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper 12 lasagna noodles 16 ounces ricotta cheese 1 egg ¾ pound mozzarella cheese, sliced ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese Directions Gather all your ingredients. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Cook sausage, ground beef, onion, and garlic in a Dutch oven over medium heat until well browned. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios 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. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios 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. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese with egg, remaining 2 tablespoons parsley, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). 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. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios 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. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 25 minutes. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Rest lasagna for 15 minutes before serving. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios From the Editor This recipe uses 2 layers of lasagna noodles by slightly overlapping 6 noodles on each layer. The video for this recipe features 3 layers, using 4 noodles on each layer that don't overlap. If you follow the video, use 1 cup of meat sauce and 1/3 of the ricotta cheese mixture in each layer. I Made It Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 448 Calories 21g Fat 37g Carbs 30g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 12 Calories 448 % Daily Value * Total Fat 21g 27% Saturated Fat 10g 50% Cholesterol 82mg 27% Sodium 1400mg 61% Total Carbohydrate 37g 13% Dietary Fiber 4g 14% Total Sugars 9g Protein 30g 59% Vitamin C 17mg 19% Calcium 442mg 34% Iron 4mg 23% Potassium 876mg 19% * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs. ** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data. (-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption. Powered by the ESHA Research Database © 2018, ESHA Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved