World’s Best Lasagna

World’s best lasagna recipe is right here, along with a gluten free lasagna recipe option! The quintessential recipe for the ultimate Italian comfort food classic.

I am not Italian. At all. No little, old Italian grandma’s in the kitchen, cooking up vats of gravy, and brasciole, and manicotti, and whatever else it is that Italian and Italian-American grandmas are stereo-typically making.  But I love Italy, and Italian food, though I have to admit that after several trips to Italy, I am a bit spoiled. Italian food here in America just doesn’t quite live up to my expectations anymore.

But for some reason, when I have to make a large amount of something, I often fall back on Baked ziti, or stuffed shells, or this amazing lasagna created by John Chandler on Allrecipes (with my changes as I note below).

It’s called the World’s Best Lasagna, and while I can’t verify that the research was actually done to make this claim, it is definitely the best lasagna I’ve ever made.

The sauce is made flavorful, with both beef and sausage, there is the perfect amount of cheese, and it all comes together into the perfect bite of hot, cheesy, meaty, saucy deliciousness.

 

Since it is so good, I have no need to change the recipe or make it my own.  I only make a few minor substations and changes – turkey sausage instead of pork sausage, a little less salt and sugar. Oh, and I use no-boil noodles, because this recipe is enough work as it is.  And actually, I think the no-boil noodles absorb some of the excess moisture, creative nice slices instead of a big pile of slop.

Like I said, this recipe is fairly time intensive.  I usually make the sauce the day before I plan to assemble the lasagna.  This time, it wasn’t even baked until the day after that, so this is definitely one you can make ahead of time.  I’ve even frozen it unbaked, and it still turn out fabulous.  And I usually make two, because it is only a small amount of additional work.

This time I was taking one to a woman in my mom’s group, who just had her third daughter.  The other lasagna was for my dad, since he was babysitting The Bug ALL DAY, and I know they both love it.  The Bug and The Hubby even had it reheated a couple nights later for dinner.

Truthfully, that is when I took these pictures. And it still looks yummy, right?! Since it makes so much (and sadly I cannot eat it – boo hoo!), we even have some individual portions still in our freezer.

Please continue to Next Page (>) for the full list of ingredients and complete cooking instructions.