World's Best Lasagna

Ingredients

• 1 lb sweet Italian sausage
• ¾ lb lean ground beef
• ½ cup minced onion
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
• 2 (6.5 oz) cans tomato sauce
• 2 (6 oz) cans tomato paste
• ½ cup water
• 2 tbsp white sugar
• 4 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, divided
• 1½ tsp dried basil leaves
• 1½ tsp salt, divided, or to taste
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• ½ tsp fennel seeds
• ¼ tsp ground black pepper
• 12 lasagna noodles
• 16 oz ricotta cheese
• 1 egg
• ¾ lb mozzarella cheese, sliced
• ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Cook sausage, ground beef, onion, and garlic in a Dutch oven over medium heat until well browned.
2. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, and water. Season with sugar, 2 tbsp parsley, basil, 1 tsp salt, Italian seasoning, fennel seeds, and pepper. Simmer, covered, for about 1½ hours, stirring occasionally.
3. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook lasagna noodles in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes. Drain noodles and rinse with cold water.
4. In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese with egg, remaining 2 tbsp parsley, and ½ tsp salt.
5. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
6. To assemble, spread 1½ cups of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish. Arrange 6 noodles lengthwise over meat sauce, overlapping slightly. Spread with half of the ricotta cheese mixture. Top with ⅓ of the mozzarella cheese slices. Spoon 1½ cups meat sauce over mozzarella and sprinkle with ¼ cup Parmesan cheese.
7. Repeat layers, and top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
8. Cover with foil. To prevent sticking, either spray foil with cooking spray or make sure the foil does not touch the cheese.
9. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 25 minutes.
10. Rest lasagna for 15 minutes before serving.