Italian Sausage Lasagna
This is my favorite lasagna recipe.
I don't remember where this lasagna recipe originated, but it has been
modified so much that it doesn't really resemble the original lasagna recipe
anyway. I don't care for ricotta cheese in lasagna, and cottage cheese
definitely does not belong in lasagna.
This recipe doesn't have ricotta cheese in it, but instead uses
mozzarella, cheddar, and Parmesan. I use Italian sausage, but no ground beef.
When I make this, I make a double recipe in a very large (9½ x 14½
x 2 inch) Pyrex cooking dish. I also like to have
a few noodles that get a little crispy, so instead of topping it with the
grated Parmesan on top of the meat sauce, I finish it with an extra layer of
noodles, shredded cheese, then the grated Parmesan.
Ingredients
- ½ pound Hot Italian sausage
- ½ pound Sweet (not hot) Italian sausage
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 clove garlic, crushed
- 24 ounces tomato sauce
- 2 Tablespoons parsley, chopped
- 1 Tablespoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 8 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 6 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 8 ounces lasagna noodles
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Preparing the Lasagna
- Remove sheath from sausage. This may be easier if you scald the sausage
first. After removing the sheath, cut or crumble the sausage into small chunks.
- In a large skillet, sauté over medium high heat, the sausage, onion, and garlic until the sausage is lightly browned.
- If there seems to be excess grease in the pan, drain and discard the grease.
- If the sausage chunks seem too large, break them up using a spoon
- Stir in the tomato sauce, parsley, sugar, salt, basil, oregano, and pepper. Cover and simmer 20 minutes.
- Cook the lasagna noodles as directed on the package.
- Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit.
- Mix the two shredded cheeses together. Spread one cup of the meat sauce in
the bottom of an un-greased oblong baking dish, 9 x 11 x 2 inches (or 9 x 13 x
2). Layer ½ each of the noodles, the remaining meat sauce, and the
cheeses. Repeat. Sprinkle the top with the grated Parmesan cheese.
- Tent Aluminum foil over the pan and bake in a 350° F oven 30 minutes,
then remove aluminum foil and bake until the top browns nicely, about another 15
minutes. Let stand 15 minutes to cool before cutting and serving.
- Serve this with a nice salad, and an Italian wine.
Enjoy!