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Maggiano’s Lasagna Recipe

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Recreate Maggiano’s lasagna at home! A hearty meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and gooey cheese make this the ultimate comfort food.

  • Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
  • Yield: 6-8 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • Meat Sauce Ingredients:
  • 1 lb each of ground beef and beef sausage (remove casings)
  • 1 large onion, finely chopped, and 3 minced garlic cloves
  • Tomato components: 2 large cans of crushed tomatoes (28 oz each), 1 small can of tomato paste (6 oz), 1 medium can of tomato sauce (15 oz), and ½ cup of water
  • Seasonings: 2 tbsp sugar, 1 tbsp basil, ½ tsp fennel seeds, 1 tsp Italian seasoning, 1 tbsp salt, ¼ tsp pepper
  • Fresh touch: 2 tbsp chopped parsley
  • Cheese Filling Ingredients:
  • 16 oz ricotta cheese blended with 1 egg
  • Seasoned lightly with ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp pepper, and 2 tbsp parsley
  • Lasagna Assembly Ingredients:
  • 12 lasagna noodles, cooked
  • Cheeses: 16 oz shredded mozzarella and 1 cup grated Parmesan

Instructions

Step 1: Make the meat sauce

Start by browning your ground beef and beef sausage in a large pot over medium heat. The goal here is to get it nice and browned—this develops the flavor. Once cooked, drain off any excess fat (nobody likes a greasy lasagna!). Stir in the tomato components, water, sugar, and seasonings. Let it simmer for about 1 1/2 hours. This part requires patience, but trust me, the flavors get better the longer they cook together. Give it a taste toward the end and adjust the seasonings if needed.

Step 2: Prepare the cheese filling

Mix the ricotta, egg, parsley, salt, and pepper in a bowl until smooth. I’ve learned to keep this simple—the sauce and mozzarella do a lot of the heavy lifting flavor-wise, so you don’t need to overdo it here.

Step 3: Cook the noodles

Cook your lasagna noodles according to the package instructions. Once they’re tender but still slightly firm, drain them and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. Lay them flat on a clean surface or a sheet of wax paper to keep them from sticking together.

Step 4: Assemble the lasagna

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Start with a layer of sauce on the bottom of your baking dish—this prevents the noodles from sticking. Then, layer noodles, ricotta mixture, mozzarella, and Parmesan. Repeat until you’ve got three layers, finishing with a generous sprinkling of cheese on top.

Step 5: Bake to perfection

Cover the dish with foil (don’t forget to spray it first!) and bake for 25 minutes. Then, remove the foil and bake for another 25 minutes until the top is golden and bubbling. Let the lasagna cool for about 15 minutes before serving—it’ll hold together better that way.

Notes

This recipe is super flexible. For a crowd, double the ingredients and use a larger baking dish. If you’re cooking for two, halve the ingredients and assemble the lasagna in a loaf pan—it’s the perfect size for smaller servings. Just keep in mind that the baking time may vary slightly, so keep an eye on it.

  • Author: Soraya
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
  • Category: Lunch