ingredients:
for the meat sauce:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
- 1 small onion, diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce
- 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt & black pepper, to taste
for the cheese layer:
- 16 oz cottage cheese or ricotta
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
other layers:
- 12 lasagna noodles, cooked al dente
- 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- Extra Parmesan for topping
directions:
make the sauce
In a large skillet, cook beef and sausage until browned. Drain excess fat. Add onion and garlic, cooking until soft. Stir in marinara, tomato sauce, tomato paste, and seasonings. Simmer 15–20 mins.
mix the cheese filling
In a bowl, blend cottage cheese (or ricotta), cream cheese, sour cream, egg, Parmesan, and parsley until smooth.
layer it up
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). In a 9×13-inch baking dish, spread a thin layer of sauce. Add 4 noodles, spread with 1/3 cheese mixture, 1/3 meat sauce, and a sprinkle of mozzarella. Repeat layers twice, ending with sauce and plenty of mozzarella + Parmesan on top.
bake
Cover with foil and bake 30 mins. Remove foil and bake another 15–20 mins until golden and bubbly. Let rest 10–15 mins before slicing.
tips:
- Make ahead! Assemble, cover, and refrigerate up to 24 hours before baking.
- Add spinach to the cheese layer for a veggie boost.
- Freezes beautifully—slice into squares and wrap individually for easy meals.
⏲ prep time: 30 mins | bake time: 50 mins
makes: 10–12 servings