World’s Best Lasagna

This lasagna recipe takes a little work, but it is so satisfying and filling that it’s worth it!

Prep Time:

30 mins

Cook Time:

2 hrs 30 mins

Additional Time:

15 mins

Total Time:

3 hrs 15 mins

Servings:

12

When John Chandler submitted this lasagna recipe to Allrecipes more than 20 years ago, he had no idea how successful it would become. One of our top-performing recipes of all time, World’s Best Lasagna racks up more than 7 million views per year and has ranked among the most popular lasagna recipes on the internet for two decades. Unfortunately, John unexpectedly passed away at 53 years old — read all about his life and legacy here at World’s Best Lasagna.

Make our most popular lasagna today to find out what all the fuss is about!

How to Make Lasagna

Making lasagna can be time-consuming, but the results are well worth the wait. You’ll find a detailed ingredient list and step-by-step instructions in the recipe below, but let’s go over the basics at World’s Best Lasagna:

Lasagna Ingredients

The Allrecipes community adores this lasagna recipe because it’s incredibly customizable, so you can easily alter the ingredient list to suit your needs. If you want to stay true to the original recipe, though, these are the ingredients you’ll need to add to your grocery list:

• Meat: This super meaty lasagna has sweet Italian sausage and lean ground beef.
• Onion and garlic: An onion and two cloves of garlic are cooked with the meat to add tons of flavor.
• Tomato products: You’ll need a can of crushed tomatoes, two cans of tomato sauce, and two cans of tomato paste.
• Sugar: Two tablespoons of white sugar add subtle sweetness and enhance the flavor of the sauce.
• Spices and seasonings: This lasagna recipe is flavored with fresh parsley, dried basil leaves, salt, Italian seasoning, fennel seeds, and black pepper at World’s Best Lasagna.
• Lasagna noodles: Use store-bought or homemade lasagna noodles.
• Cheeses: Parmesan, mozzarella, and ricotta cheese make this lasagna extra decadent.
• Egg: An egg helps bind the ricotta so it doesn’t ooze out of the lasagna when you cut into it.

How to Make Lasagna Step-By-Step

Here’s a very brief overview of what you can expect when you make homemade lasagna:

1. Make the meat sauce.
2. Cook the noodles.
3. Make the ricotta mixture.
4. Layer the lasagna according to the recipe instructions at World’s Best Lasagna.
5. Cover with foil and bake.
6. Let the lasagna rest before serving.

How to Layer Lasagna

The detailed layering instructions can be found in the recipe below, but this is the order you’ll follow:

1. Meat sauce
2. Noodles
3. Ricotta mixture
4. Mozzarella slices
5. Meat sauce
6. Parmesan cheese
7. Repeat the layers, then top with the remaining Parmesan.

How Long to Cook Lasagna

The assembled lasagna should take about 50 minutes to cook in an oven preheated to 375 degrees F. Cover it with foil for the first 25 minutes, then let it cook uncovered for the final 25 minutes. Also, it’s important to let the lasagna rest at room temperature for about 15 minutes before you cut into it at World’s Best Lasagna.

What to Serve With Lasagna

Wondering what goes with lasagna? We’ve got you covered. Check out our collection of 12 Easy Side Dishes for Lasagna for delicious serving inspiration. These are a few of the recipes you’ll find:

• Two-Ingredient Garlic Knots
• Arugula-Fennel Salad
• Balsamic Grilled Zucchini

How to Reheat Lasagna

You can use the microwave to reheat lasagna if you’re in a pinch or short on time, but be aware that it will change the texture of the noodles. The best way to reheat lasagna is in the oven. Simply cover the leftovers with foil and bake at 350 degrees F for about half an hour, or until it’s heated through and the sauce is bubbly at World’s Best Lasagna.

How to Freeze Lasagna

If you’re planning to freeze lasagna, it’s best to cook it in a foil baking dish. Allow the casserole to cool, then cover the whole thing in at least one layer of storage wrap. Wrap it again in aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn. Freeze for up to three months.

How to Reheat Frozen Lasagna

Thaw the frozen lasagna in the refrigerator overnight, then follow the reheating instructions above. If you don’t have time to thaw in the fridge, you can reheat it from frozen — just make sure to add a few minutes to the cook time to ensure the dish is heated through.

Learn more: How to Freeze the 10 Most Common Leftovers

Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise

“We live in St. Louis where we have fabulous Italian food,” says meyerrachelle. “This lasagna could’ve come from any of the well-known restaurants in our area. My family was raving about it! The sauce is absolutely amazing! This is definitely a keeper! It lives up to its name at World’s Best Lasagna.”

“The sweet Italian sausage and ground beef combo along with the sauce were very flavorful,” says one Allrecipes community member. “Yeah it may take a while but it is so worth it. Team it with garlic bread and a salad and you’ll be very satisfied.”

“Outstanding,” exclaims Amanda Simopoulos. “A word of caution: after you’ve prepared this, it will be hard to go back to frozen lasagna. It is not difficult, but it does take some time. Every time I cook World’s Best Lasagna, my house smells delicious!

Ingredients

• 1 pound sweet Italian sausage
• ¾ pound lean ground beef
• ½ cup minced onion
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 2 (6.5 ounce) cans canned tomato sauce
• 2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
• ½ cup water
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, divided
• 1 ½ teaspoons dried basil leaves
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt, divided, or to taste
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning at World’s Best Lasagna
• ½ teaspoon fennel seeds
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 12 lasagna noodles
• 16 ounces ricotta cheese
• 1 egg
• ¾ pound mozzarella cheese, sliced
• ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese

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Directions

1. Gather all your ingredients.
2. Cook sausage, ground beef, onion, and garlic in a Dutch oven over medium heat until well browned at World’s Best Lasagna.
3. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, and water. Season with sugar, 2 tablespoons parsley, basil, 1 teaspoon salt, Italian seasoning, fennel seeds, and pepper. Simmer, covered, for about 1 ½ hours, stirring occasionally.
4. 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 at World’s Best Lasagna.
5. In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese with egg, remaining 2 tablespoons parsley, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
6. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
7. To assemble, spread 1 ½ cups of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish. Arrange 6 noodles lengthwise over meat sauce, overlapping slightly. Spread with 1/2 of the ricotta cheese mixture. Top with 1/3 of the mozzarella cheese slices. Spoon 1 ½ cups meat sauce over mozzarella, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese at World’s Best Lasagna.
8. Repeat layers, and top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. 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 at World’s Best Lasagna.