Lasagna, the ultimate comfort food, is a dish that requires a little extra effort but rewards you with unmatched satisfaction and flavor. One lasagna recipe, in particular, has stood the test of time and has become a beloved favorite among home cooks. Known as the “World’s Best Lasagna,” this recipe has garnered over 7 million views annually on Allrecipes, making it one of the top-performing recipes of all time. Its popularity has soared over the past two decades, captivating the hearts and palates of lasagna enthusiasts worldwide. Unfortunately, the creator of this iconic recipe, John Chandler, unexpectedly passed away at the age of 53, leaving behind a culinary legacy that continues to inspire.
How to Make Lasagna
If you’re ready to embark on a lasagna-making adventure, let’s delve into the process and explore the essentials:
Lasagna Ingredients
The beauty of this lasagna recipe lies in its adaptability. The Allrecipes community adores it for its customizability, allowing you to tailor the ingredients to suit your preferences. However, if you wish to stay true to the original recipe, here’s what you’ll need:
– Meat: Sweet Italian sausage and lean ground beef come together to create a hearty and meaty lasagna.
– Onion and Garlic: To infuse the meat with flavor, add a finely chopped onion and two cloves of garlic to the cooking process.
– Tomato Products: A can of crushed tomatoes, two cans of tomato sauce, and two cans of tomato paste will form the base of the rich and tangy sauce.
– Sugar: Two tablespoons of white sugar may seem unconventional, but they subtly enhance the flavor of the sauce.
– Spices and Seasonings: Fresh parsley, dried basil leaves, salt, Italian seasoning, fennel seeds, and black pepper combine to create a harmonious blend of flavors.
– Lasagna Noodles: Opt for store-bought or homemade lasagna noodles to form the delicious layers.
– Cheeses: Parmesan, mozzarella, and ricotta cheese take this lasagna to the next level of indulgence.
– Egg: Incorporating an egg into the ricotta mixture helps bind it together, preventing any unwanted oozing when the lasagna is sliced.
How to Make Lasagna Step-By-Step
Let’s take a brief overview of the step-by-step process involved in creating this homemade lasagna:
1. Prepare the meat sauce by cooking the sweet Italian sausage, lean ground beef, onion, and garlic until browned and aromatic.
2. Cook the lasagna noodles according to the instructions on the package, ensuring they reach al dente perfection.
3. Create a smooth and creamy ricotta mixture by combining the ricotta cheese and egg in a separate bowl.
4. Begin layering the lasagna by starting with a base of meat sauce at the bottom of the baking dish, followed by lasagna noodles, ricotta mixture, mozzarella slices, more meat sauce, and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. Repeat these layers until you run out of ingredients, making sure to finish with a final layer of Parmesan cheese on top.
5. Cover the lasagna with foil and bake it in a preheated oven at 375 degrees F for approximately 50 minutes. After the initial 25 minutes, remove the foil to allow the cheese to turn golden and bubbly.
6. Once the lasagna is cooked, resist the temptation to dig in right away. Allow it to rest at room temperature for about 15 minutes. This resting period allows the flavors to meld and the layers to settle, resulting in a more cohesive and sliceable lasagna.
Do you boil lasagna first?
It is not necessary to boil the noodles before assembling the dish. Even if we do in below recipe Instead, the liquids from the spaghetti sauce and other ingredients will cook the noodles perfectly in the oven as the lasagna bakes. This eliminates the need for an extra step and saves time in the kitchen. The noodles will absorb the moisture from the sauce, resulting in tender and flavorful layers in the final dish. It is important to ensure that the sauce has enough liquid to properly cook the noodles. This no-boil method is convenient and produces excellent results.
How to Reheat Lasagna
Reheating leftover lasagna is a common scenario, and while the microwave offers convenience, it can affect
the texture of the noodles. For the best results, the oven is the preferred method of reheating. Here’s how to do it:
1. Cover the leftover lasagna with foil to prevent it from drying out and bake it in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F.
2. Allow the lasagna to heat through for approximately 30 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the desired temperature is reached.
3. Once heated, remove it from the oven and savor the flavors of the reheated lasagna, reminiscent of the initial deliciousness.
How to Freeze Lasagna
Freezing lasagna is a fantastic option for meal prep or preserving leftovers. To freeze lasagna and maintain its quality:
1. Cook the lasagna in a foil baking dish to make the freezing process more convenient.
2. Allow the lasagna to cool completely before proceeding to freeze it.
3. Cover the entire dish with at least one layer of storage wrap, ensuring it is tightly sealed.
4. To protect against freezer burn, wrap the dish again with aluminum foil, providing an additional layer of insulation.
5. Place the wrapped lasagna in the freezer, where it can be safely stored for up to three months.
How to Reheat Frozen Lasagna
When the time comes to enjoy your frozen lasagna, follow these steps for a successful reheating process:
1. Thaw the frozen lasagna in the refrigerator overnight. This gradual thawing ensures the lasagna retains its texture and flavor.
2. Once thawed, follow the reheating instructions mentioned earlier. However, keep in mind that since the lasagna was initially frozen, you may need to add a few extra minutes to the cooking time to ensure it is thoroughly heated.
World Best Lasagna Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound of savory Italian sausage
- ¾ pound of lean ground beef
- ½ cup of finely minced onion
- 2 cloves of garlic crushed
- 1 28 ounce can of crushed tomatoes
- 2 6.5 ounce cans of tomato sauce
- 2 6 ounce cans of tomato paste
- ½ cup of water
- 2 tablespoons of granulated white sugar
- 4 tablespoons of freshly chopped parsley divided
- 1 ½ teaspoons of dried basil leaves
- 1 ½ teaspoons of salt divided (or to taste)
- 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon of fennel seeds
- ¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper
- 12 lasagna noodles
- 16 ounces of ricotta cheese
- 1 egg
- ¾ pound of mozzarella cheese sliced
- ¾ cup of grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Begin by gathering all the required ingredients to ensure a smooth cooking process.
- In a Dutch oven over medium heat, brown the Italian sausage, ground beef, minced onion, and crushed garlic until they are well-cooked and flavorful.
- Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, and water. Season the mixture with granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons of freshly chopped parsley, dried basil leaves, 1 teaspoon of salt, Italian seasoning, fennel seeds, and ground black pepper. Allow the sauce to simmer, covered, for approximately 1 ½ hours, remembering to stir occasionally.
- In a large pot, bring lightly salted water to a boil. Cook the lasagna noodles in the boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the noodles and rinse them with cold water.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the ricotta cheese with the egg, the remaining 2 tablespoons of freshly chopped parsley, and ½ teaspoon of salt.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- To assemble the lasagna, spread 1 ½ cups of the meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish. Arrange 6 noodles lengthwise over the meat sauce. Spread half of the ricotta cheese mixture on top. Layer one-third of the mozzarella cheese slices and then spoon 1 ½ cups of meat sauce over the mozzarella. Sprinkle ¼ cup of Parmesan cheese on top.
- Repeat the layers and finish with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. To prevent sticking, either spray the foil with cooking spray or make sure it does not touch the cheese.
- Bake the lasagna in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 25 minutes.
- Allow the lasagna to rest for 15 minutes before serving. This resting period will help the flavors meld together and make slicing easier.
- Indulge in the ultimate delight of this homemade lasagna. The savory blend of Italian sausage, ground beef, and layers of cheese will transport your taste buds to a world of culinary bliss. Enjoy this comforting dish with loved ones and savor every bite of this unique and unforgettable lasagna experience.
