Lasagna with Meat and Sausage Sauce

Italian Lasagne with meat and sausage sauce

Next time you need a Meat and Sausage Lasagna recipe try this one. It was a great hit with my family and perfect dish for an Italian Theme Party, football game or just for every day dinner.

Vanilla Crepe Recipe - Ingredients

Lasagna with Meat and Sausage Sauce Ingredients

12 lasagna noodles
3/4 pound mozzarella cheese, shredded
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Meat and Sausage Sauce:

1 pound sweet Italian Sausage
1 pound lean ground beef
1 whole minced onion
2 cloves of garlic crushed
2 (6 oz.) tomato paste
13-15 ounces cans canned tomato sauce
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil leaves
1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 tablespoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Ricotta Spinach Filling:

16 ounces ricotta cheese
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup frozen spinach

Theme Parties and Birthday Party line divider

Lasagna with Meat and Sausage sauce Directions

This recipe was found on allrecipes.com but with a few alterations and changes.

Step 1. Gather all of the ingredients needed for the lasagna from the above list.

Step 2. In a Dutch oven, cook sausage, ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat until well browned.

Step 3. When the meat is browned, transfer to a colander and rinse for about 10 minutes under water to get rid of the excess fat. Return back to the Dutch oven and continue to brown.

Italian Lasagne - Prepare sauce with seasonings

Step 4. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and water. Season with sugar, basil, fennel seeds, Italian seasoning, 1 tablespoon salt, pepper to taste, and 2 tablespoons parsley.

Simmer, covered, for about 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. The sauce can be made ahead of time so that the lasagna can be assembled about an hour before serving.

Italian Lasagne - ricotta cheese with chopped spinach mixed in

Step 5. Bring some hot water to boil in a kettle. Place the 12 pieces of lasagne in a large bowl or pot and soak the pasta in the hot water for about 5 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water. No need to cook the lasagna ahead of time.

In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese with egg, drained frozen chopped spinach, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.

Italian Lasagne - get all ingredients ready to assemble the Lasagne

Step 6. Here are the 5 ingredients used in the assembly: pasta, mozzarella, ricotta mixture, meat and sausage sauce and shredded parmesan cheese.

Step 7. To assemble, spread 1 1/2 cups of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish. Arrange 6 noodles lengthwise over meat sauce. Spread with one half of the ricotta cheese mixture. Top with a third of mozzarella cheese slices. Spoon 1 1/2 cups meat sauce over mozzarella, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. 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.