1-Creating Maggianos Lasagna: starts with preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C), setting the stage for a dish that’s bubbly and golden when done. Begin by boiling the lasagna noodles until they’re al dente, which takes about 8-10 minutes, then drain and set them aside to avoid sticking.

2-In a large skillet, heat the ingredients for the meat sauce over medium heat, browning the ground beef and Italian sausage for 8-10 minutes while breaking them into crumbles. Once drained of excess fat, add the chopped onion and minced garlic, sautéing for 2-3 minutes until softened, then stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and water along with seasonings like sugar, basil, fennel seeds, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and fresh parsley.

3-Bring this mixture to a low boil, then simmer uncovered for 1.5 hours, stirring occasionally to develop rich flavors. While the sauce simmers, prepare the cheese filling by combining ricotta cheese, egg, salt, black pepper, and parsley in a bowl until smooth.

4-Assembling and Baking the Lasagna: Now, spread 1 cup of the meat sauce in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Layer 3 noodles over the sauce, slightly overlapping, then spread one-third of the ricotta mixture on top, followed by one-third of the shredded mozzarella and 1/4 cup of Parmesan.

Repeat the layers two more times: meat sauce, noodles, ricotta mixture, mozzarella, and Parmesan. For the final layer, top with the remaining meat sauce, mozzarella, and Parmesan, then cover the dish with foil sprayed with cooking spray.

5-Bake covered for 25 minutes, then uncover and bake for another 25 minutes until the cheese turns golden and bubbly. Let it rest for 15 minutes before serving to help it hold its shape. For added variety, try pairing this with delicious dessert cookies from our site to round out your meal.