How To Make The World's Best Lasagna

Start with Protein. Amazing lasagna is easy to make. Cook ground meat, like turkey, sausage, or beef, until browned. You can also make vegetarian lasagna with crumbled tofu or seitan. Season the meat with salt and pepper, and mix in most of the tomato sauce at this point.

Or Go Vegan. Crumbled, seasoned tofu and vegan cheese substitutes help create a delicious meat and dairy-free comforting meal.

Cheese, Please. The secret to really great lasagna is flavorful cheese. Ricotta is most often used, but you can also use cottage cheese for a healthier option. Mix in some salt, pepper, grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, and herbs like parsley and oregano. You can also mix in a whisked egg here to create a more stable and less melty lasagna.

Layers on Layers. Start the layering process with a layer of tomato sauce at the bottom. Then create thin layers of par-cooked pasta sheets, sauce, ricotta, meat, and mozzarella. Repeat until you run out of space in the pan or ingredients, whichever comes first. Finish with a generous layer of mozzarella. At this point you can go straight into the oven (bake until warmed through and bubbly on top) or store in the refrigerator until ready to use. When ready to bake, bring the lasagna to room temperature before putting it in the oven.

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Julie Ruggirello is the Recipe Editor at The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @TDMRecipeEditor.