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Best Lasagna Recipe

My Grandma’s Best Lasagna Recipe

This week I’m feeling full! I made my Grandma’s lasagna this week for dinner, and it is the best lasagna recipe ever. I actually made it a few weeks ago and shared it on instagram stories – I had a zillion dm’s asking for the recipe, so I’m finally, finally, getting it on the blog today. I had to get some major family clearance to share this on the blog, and I promise it’s the real deal recipe. Not how my Grandma used to give out a recipe, but leave out a few ingredients, so your’s would never taste quite as good as hers :)

 

pan of lasagna and piece of lasagna on white plate

Let’s pretend I took better looking photos than this, rather than in the middle of dinner yelling “wait don’t put that in your mouth, I forgot I was going to blog this!!” and stopping everything and throwing it on the table and snapping 5 photos. Oh the therapy my kids will need…

cheesy lasagna with fork

Let me just state for the record this is not a throw together for a weeknight meal kind of recipe. This is a cozy all day, Saturday project, from scratch, kind of recipe. BUT it’s so worth it. Bonus it makes two 9×13 pans or three 9×9 pans. I like to make the three 9×9 pans for our family of four and freeze two of them. That way I have an easy and delicious dinner waiting for me in the freezer for a busy week. Actually this time around, I made a double batch and gave a few away and froze four pans.

cheesy lasagna on a plate

Or if you just want a delicious pasta sauce, I have made the sauce portion alone before and froze it in two cup bags for spaghetti nights too! One more thing if you are local and really want it to taste right, you need to go to Russo’s Italian Deli in Grand Rapids and use their sausage, cheeses and spices if you want it to be perfect.

A plate of food with a piece of lasagna

Best Lasagna Recipe

Kelly Rinzema
From scratch Lasagna
5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 2 hrs 30 mins
Cook Time 45 mins
Total Time 3 hrs 15 mins
Course dinner
Cuisine Italian
Servings 30
Calories 344 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lbs bulk sweet Italian sausage
  • 5 garlic cloves smashed
  • 2 yellow onions diced
  • 2 celery stalks diced
  • 3 tbsp parsley flakes
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tbsp basil
  • 30 oz tomato paste
  • 60 oz water
  • 1 lb box of lasagna noodles cooked according to box instructions
  • 1 lb ricotta cheese
  • 2 1/2 lbs mozzarella sliced thin not shredded
  • 1/4 lb finely grated parmesan cheese

Instructions
 

  • SAUCE : Brown sausage in a large sauce pot.
  • Add onion and celery and cook until soft, 5 - 10 min.
  • Add garlic, parsley, salt, sugar, basil, tomato paste and water.
  • Bring to a boil, Simmer on low 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
  • LASAGNA:
  • Slightly cover bottom of pans with sauce (either 2 9x13 pans or 3 9x9 pans).
  • Layer cooked lasagna noodles.
  • Take a slice of mozzarella and using a butter knife spread a thin layer of ricotta on each slice and cover noodles.
  • Cover with a layer of sauce.
  • Repeat these layers until you fill the pan.
  • Sprinkle with parmesan and back at 325 for 45 min let rest 10 min.
  • If you are going to freeze the pans don't add the parmesan on top before you freeze. Add it right before you bake it.
  • If frozen bake at 325 about 75 min or until bubbling throughout.

Nutrition

Calories: 344kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 19gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 63mgSodium: 993mgPotassium: 465mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 793IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 293mgIron: 2mg
Keyword Best Lasagna Recipe, Lasagna
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

It’s been a while since I shared a recipe, but if you would like to check out a few of my other favorite’s see them here!

Happy Weekend!

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28 Comments

  1. Excited to try this!! So it says 2 1/2 pounds of mozzarella?! How did you purchase 2.5 lbs? Is it several blocks of mozzarella? How many? Haha I am just looking for clarification so I get enough! Thanks!

    1. I usually go to a deli and have them slice it for me but you can buy the sliced packages as well. You want nice thin slices – thanks!

  2. 5 stars
    We loved this recipe Kelly! Thanks for sharing your Grandma’s lasagna. I followed the recipe to the “t” and it was a big hit with the family. Best lasagna I’ve ever made and I was able to give the extra pan to my mother-In-law ?

  3. Hi Kelly,
    I made this and it was delicious, but I think I messed up the mozzarella part…lol . Would you clarify step # 8? How many mozzarella slices do you place on the noodle that has been spread with ricotta? Thanks! ?

    1. Hi Sharon, sorry I should have taken step by step photos because it’s kind of confusing. So I spread the ricotta on the thin slices of mozzarella. Then cover the pan with the slices, so you use as many as it takes to cover all the noodles up? Just a single layer of cheese. I hope that makes sense!

  6. Thank you for sharing this recipe! I made it for my family and gave away one to a friend. We all loved it and I am so happy I have one more in the freezer for another day!

  7. My absolute favorite version of lasagna. This recipe is a little time consuming but so worth it! You can’t quick whip together a lasagna that tastes this good!

  10. Can’t wait to try this with gluten free noodles. I have a quick question. Do you drain the sausage after browning it?

    1. Yes you can! Sorry I should have added that in there. My sausage wasn’t very fatty this time around so I didn’t, but if you have a lot of excess grease you can drain it for sure – thanks!

  11. 5 stars
    My mouth was watering while looking at your photos ` please tell your family thanks for waiting! I bet it was hard ’cause it looks so delish. I will be making this one this weekend. Thank you Kelly!

  12. I’m heading to the market now to purchase all the ingredients. I’m going to make it this weekend. Thanks for sharing, it looks amazing.

    1. Oh let me know how it is with gluten free noodles! My niece has celiac and I’ve always wondered if this would turn out ok for a family meal with GF noodles.

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