Chunky, cheesy lasagna takes less than 20 minutes to prep for the oven!

Ingredients:

Box of lasagna noodles

6 tsps. olive oil 

1 lb. of ground beef

1 package of Italian pork sausage (1 lb.)

2 cloves minced garlic or garlic seasoning (not garlic salt)

16 oz. package whole milk ricotta cheese

1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan

1/4 cup parsely

1/8 cup grated basil or Italian seasoning

1 sprig of basil for garnish

1/8 cup onion seasoning

1 large egg

2 lbs. grated mozzarella 

1 cup of grated Provel cheese

2 jars marinara sauce

Dash of salt and pepper

Vegetable cooking spray

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Cook pasta in a large stock pot according to directions.  Approximately 2 minutes or until al dente.

Drain noodles in a large colander, put into large bowl and gently fold in 2 tsps. olive oil so that the noodles do not stick together.

In a large skillet cook ground beef basil or Italian seasoning, garlic or garlic seasoning, onion seasoning and 2 tsps. oil over medium heat until no pink is showing, drain and set aside - do the same with sausage (keep sausage in larger chucks and do not add anymore seasonings) - remove sausage from skillet and drain, but keep drippings (do not clean the pan).

In the same pan, add marinara sauce and seasoned beef - bring to simmer over very low heat, remove, set aside.

Combine ricotta, 1/4 cup Parmesan, egg, parsley and basil in a large bowl (salt and pepper to taste).

In a large casserole dish, spray the bottom with nonstick vegetable oil, then repeat these steps until you are out of noodles:

• Spread a layer of marinara beef mixture evenly across the bottom
• One layer of noodles
• Evenly spread the top of the noodles with ricotta mixture
• Drop chunks of sausage evenly over the ricotta mixture
• Evenly layer mozzarella over sausage
• Layer beef mixture evenly over mozzarella
• Start another layer of noodles

Finish the lasagna with topping the last layer of noodles with either a cup of Provel cheese (no noodles showing) or beef mixture, sausage and remainder of mozzarella cheese also with no noodles showing (to avoid crispness).

Cover the dish with foil making sure to tent foil so that it does not touch the top of the lasagna.

Cook for 15 minutes, then remove foil, increase temp to 400 degrees for 18-20 minutes uncovered or until done.

Garnish with sprig of basil and serve.

 Image by: Pixabay/Angelorosa