Hearty Meat Lasagna Recipes

HEARTY MEAT LASAGNA

Steps:

• Cook and drain noodles as directed on package; rinse with hot water and drain.
• In a large skillet or Dutch oven, cook ground beef and Italian sausage until done; drain then add mushrooms, spaghetti sauce, and tomato sauce; simmer 10-15 minutes.
• In a small bowl, blend egg and ricotta.
• In the bottom of a 9x13" baking pan, spread layers of 1/3 of the sauce, then 1/3 of the lasagne noodles, then 1/3 of the ricotta mixture, and then 1/3 of the shredded cheese; repeat layers twice.
• Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake at 375° for 20 minutes; uncover and bake another 20 minutes; remove from oven and let stand 5-10 minutes before cutting.
• NOTE: You can get by using 9 lasagne noodles, but I use 12 because I like to overlap them a bit ~ You also may vary the meats and use 1 pound sausage with 3/4 pound beef or whatever combination your family likes.

HEARTY MEAT LASAGNA (OAMC)

Steps:

• FOR THE SAUCE: Heat the oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onion and cook until softened but not browned, about 3 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in the meat loaf mix, 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp pepper and cook, breaking the meat into small pieces with a wooden spoon, until the meat loses its raw color but has not browned, about 4 minutes.
• Stir in the cream, bring to a simmer, and cook until the liquid evaporates and only the fat remains, about 5 minutes. Stir in the tomato puree and drained diced tomatoes, Bring to a simmer and cook until the flavors are blended, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste; set aside.
• FOR THE RICOTTA FILLING: Stir all of the ingredients together until combined; set aside.
• TO ASSEMBLE THE LASAGNA: Spread 1 cup of the sauce over the bottom of a 13 by 9-inch baking dish (avoiding large chunks of meat). Place 3 of the noodles in a single layer in the baking dish. Spread 1/3 cup of the ricotta mixture over each noodle, then sprinkle the layer with 1 cup of the mozzarella. Spoon 1 cup of the sauce evenly over the cheeses. Repeat the layering of the noodles, ricotta, mozzerella, and sauce twice more. Place the remaining 3 noodles on top, cover with the remaining 1 cup mozzarella and the Parmesan.
• TO STORE: Wrap the dish tightly with plastic wrap and then foil and refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 1 month. (If frozen, the casserole must be completely thawed in the refrigerator, about 24 hours.).
• TO SERVE: Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 400 degrees. Unwrap the dish and cover tightly with foil that has been sprayed with vegetable oil spray (or use nonstick foil). Bake until the sauce bubbles lightly around the edges, 30 to 40 minutes. Remove the foil and continue to bake until hot throughout and the cheese is browned in spots, 25 to 30 minutes longer. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.
• TO SERVE RIGHT AWAY: Bake as directed, reducing the covered baking time to 15 minutes.

HEARTY LASAGNA

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook beef, onion and garlic in oil until meat is browned and onion is tender; drain. Stir in tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, oregano, sugar, salt and pepper. Place carrots and celery in sauce. Simmer, uncovered, for 1-1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. , Meanwhile, cook lasagna noodles according to package directions. Drain; rinse in cold water. Remove and discard carrots and celery. , In a greased 13x9-in. baking dish, layer one-third of the noodles, one-third of the meat sauce, one-third of the ricotta, one-third of the mozzarella and one-third of the Parmesan. Repeat layers once. Top with remaining noodles and meat sauce. , Cut a heart out of aluminum foil and center on top of sauce. Dollop and spread remaining ricotta around heart. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 45 minutes. Remove and discard foil heart. Let stand 10-15 minutes before cutting.

HEARTY MEAT LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 Heat oil in large Dutch oven until shimmering but not smoking. Add onions and cook until soft then add garlic and cook 2 min. Increase heat and add meats, salt and pepper. Cook and break meat into small pieces until meat is not raw but not really browned. Add cream and simmer, stirring, until the liquid evaporates and only the fat remains (about 4 min.) Add all tomatoes and simmer until flavors are blended. Set aside. (can refrigerated for 2 days). Mix ricotta, 1 C parmesan, basil, egg, salt & pepper in med. bowl with fork until combined and creamy. Smear bottom of 9 x 13" baking dish with 1/4 C meat sauce. Place 3 noodles on top. Drop 3 Tbs ricotta mixture on center of each noodle and level the mounds with the back side of a spoon. Sprinkle evenly with 1 C mozzarella cheese. Spoon 1 1/2 C meat sauce over mozzarella. Repeat layering noodles, ricotta, mozzarella, and sauce 2 more times. Top with 1 C mozzarella and 1/4 C parmesan. Spray foil with non stick oil and cover lasagna,. Bake 15 minutes then remove foil and continue baking until cheese is spotty brown and sauce is bubbling (about 25 min). Cool 10 min. before cutting

HEARTY MEAT LASAGNA

Steps:

• Put oven rack in middle position, preheat to 375 degrees SAUCE: Heat oil in large heavy Dutch oven until simmering, add onion and cook until softened. Add garlic & cook until fragrant, increase heat to medium-high and add the meat, salt, pepper. Cook until browned, add the pureed and drained tomatoes and bring to simmer. Simmer @ 3 minutes, set aside. LAYERS: Mix the ricotta, 1 cup of parmesan, basil, egg, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl, set aside. Smear the entire bottom of a 13 X 9 dish with 1/4 cup of met sauce. Place 3 noodles in the dish. Drop 3 Tbsp. ricotta mixture down the center of each noodle and level the mounds. Sprinkle the layer evenly with 1 cup of the shredded mozzarella cheese. Spoon 1 -1/2 cups meat sauce evenly over the cheese. Repeat layering of noodles, ricotta, mozzarella, and sauce two more times. Place the 3 remaining noodles on top of the sauce, spread the remaining sauce over the noodles, sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup mozzarella, then with the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan. Lightly spray a large sheet of foil with cooking spray and cover the lasagna. BAKE 15 min. then remove the foil. Return the lasagna to the oven and bake until the cheese is spotty brown and the sauce is bubbling, @ 25 min. longer. Cool the lasagna @ 10 minutes; cut into pieces and serve.