Eat With Me // Classic Meat Lasagna

Here at Arys + Co, we love a dependable dish fit for any season, and time has proven lasagna to be our go to. This classic meat lasagna is made to satisfy the pickiest of bellies, as well as fill the heartiest of appetites. Depending on the size of your family, you’ll even have leftovers! Let us know what you think, and if you make it, post it and tag us!

Prep time: 30 minutes // Cook time: 45 minutes

Ingredients for Lasagna:

1 lb Ground Beef 80/20
2 small garlic cloves (minced)
1/2 onion (finely diced)
1/4 cup red wine (I used one I could enjoy while cooking)
2 tbsp fresh parsley (finely chopped)
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp granulated sugar
1/4 tsp dried thyme
24 oz pasta sauce (I like to make my own, but in a pinch, “Rao’s Homemade Tomato and Basil”)
Box of precooked lasagna noodles

Ingredients for Cheese Sauce:

20 oz mozzarella cheese (traditionally shredded)
16 oz cottage cheese (small curd)
15 oz ricotta cheese
8 oz Parmesan cheese (shredded)
2 tbsp fresh parsley (finely chopped)
1 large egg

Let’s Work:

1. Place a deep pan over medium heat and add 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 lb ground beef, and diced onion. Sauté until beef is no longer pink. Add minced garlic and sauté for another minute or two.
2. Add 1/4 cup of wine and stir until wine is absorbed. Add 24 oz of pasta sauce, 2 tbsp parsley, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp sugar, 1/2 tsp pepper 1/4 tsp thyme. Bring ingredients to a simmer, cover, and cook for 5 minutes. Set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl, combine 8 oz mozzarella, 16 oz cottage, 15 oz ricotta, 4 oz Parmesan, 1 egg and 2 tbsp parsley. Mix (use a beater if possible).
4. Spread 1/2 cup meat sauce in the bottom of a standard lasagna/casserole dish. Layer and spread 3 noodles, 1/3 meat sauce, 4 oz mozzarella, and 1/2 of the cheese sauce. Repeat until you have 3 layers of noodles. 3 noodles, 1/3 meat sauce, 4 oz mozzarella, 1/2 cheese sauce. 3 noodles, last of the meat sauce, last of the mozzarella, last of the Parmesan.
5. Loosely cover with foil, and bake at 375 degrees for 40 minutes.
6. Remove foil, and broil for 5 minutes, until top layer of cheese is golden and slightly crispy.
7. Let cool for 15-20 minutes (so it doesn’t fall apart), and serve!

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