Ingredients
Directions 16 steps | 135 Minutes
Prepare the meat sauce. Heat a large saucepan over medium-high heat and add the olive oil. Add the sausage and beef and cook stirring occasionally until browned, about 6-8 minutes.
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Lower the heat to medium and add the chopped onions and cook stirring occasionally until softened, about 3-4 minutes.
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Add the garlic and cook stirring constantly until fragrant, about 1 minute.
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Add the tomato paste and cook stirring constantly until the tomato paste turns slightly darker in color, about 1-2 minutes.
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Add the water. Scrap up any brown bits on the bottom of the pan.
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Stir in the crushed tomatoes and mix until well combined.
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Add the sugar, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes and parsley. Bring the meat sauce to a boil and down to a simmer. Simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, making sure to scrape down the bottom of the pot when stirring.
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While the tomato sauce is simmering, bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Once the water reaches a boil, add the lasagna noodles and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes.
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While the water comes to a boil, prepare the ricotta filling. In a bowl, stir together the ricotta, egg, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, black pepper and salt. Set aside.
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Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 2-quart rectangular baking dish. Spread a thin layer of the meat sauce on the bottom of the baking dish. Set aside.
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Assemble the lasagna roll-ups. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Pat the lasagna noodles dry and place them on the prepared sheet pan. Spread a thin layer of ricotta filling over each lasagna noodle. Top with a layer of meat sauce.
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Making sure that the meat sauce is cool enough to handle, use your fingers to gently roll the lasagna noodles from one end to the other.
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Place the rolled lasagna, seam side down, into the prepared baking dish.
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Add the remaining meat sauce over the prepared lasagna roll-ups. Sprinkle the mozzarella and Parmesan cheese over the top.
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Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 15 minutes. Remove the aluminum foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes.
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Garnish with basil or parsley and serve. Enjoy!
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Notes:
- In a hurry? Substitute store-bought sauce and add ground beef or keep it vegetarian and enjoy a meatless lasagna.
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