1-Getting Started and Preheating the Oven: First, preheat the oven to 350°F as directed in the recipe. This step helps everything cook evenly and brings out the flavors. While the oven warms up, prepare your ingredients like dicing the onion and mincing the garlic to make the process smooth.

2-Cooking the Noodles and Meat Mixture: Next, boil the lasagna noodles in salted water until they reach al dente texture; this usually takes about 8-10 minutes depending on the brand. Drain and rinse them with cold water to stop the cooking and prevent sticking. In a skillet, brown the ground beef, Italian sausage, onion, and garlic over medium heat until no pink remains, then drain the fat for a leaner dish.

After that, add 36 ounces of pasta sauce, 2 tablespoons of tomato paste, 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, and ¾ teaspoon of salt, plus pepper to taste. Let this simmer for 5 minutes until it thickens, creating a rich base for your layers. In a separate bowl, mix 1½ cups of shredded mozzarella cheese, ¼ cup of shredded Parmesan cheese, 2 cups of ricotta or cottage cheese, ¼ cup of chopped fresh parsley, 1 beaten large egg, and a bit of salt to form the cheese mixture.

3-Assembling and Baking the Lasagna: Now, in a 9×13 inch baking pan, spread 1 cup of the meat sauce at the bottom. Layer 3 noodles on top, followed by one-third of the cheese mixture and 1 cup of sauce; repeat this process twice more for even layers. Finish with the last 3 noodles and the remaining meat sauce on top.

Cover the pan with foil and bake for 45 minutes. Then, remove the foil, sprinkle the rest of the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, and bake uncovered for another 15 minutes until it’s bubbly and browned. If you want extra crispiness, broil for 2-3 minutes at the end. Let it rest for at least 15 minutes before cutting to help it set.