Best Homemade Lasagna

• servings: 10 servings
• total time: 2 hours

Ingredients

1 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil

1 lb. (90% lean) ground beef

1 lb. ground pork

3 tbsp. tomato paste

2 (32-oz.) jars marinara sauce

2 tsp. kosher salt

4 c. whole milk

1/2 c. (1 stick) unsalted butter

1/2 c. all-purpose flour

1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg

2 tsp. kosher salt

1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

15 no-boil lasagna noodles (about 9 oz.)

1 lb. whole-milk mozzarella, shredded

3 c. finely grated Parmesan (about 7 oz.)

Cooking spray

Chopped fresh parsley, for serving

Directions

Bolognese Sauce

In a large pot over medium-high heat, heat oil. Cook beef and pork, breaking up with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Drain excess fat.

Add tomato paste to pot and cook over medium-high heat, stirring, until incorporated, about 1 minute. Add marinara sauce and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, then stir in 1 teaspoon salt. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until flavors have melded, about 20 minutes; season with remaining 1 teaspoon salt, if needed.

Béchamel Sauce

In a medium pot over medium heat, heat milk until warm to the touch but not boiling.

In a large pot over medium-high heat, melt butter. Add flour and cook, whisking frequently, until light tan in color and texture resembles wet sand, about 2 minutes. Whisking constantly, very slowly add milk until combined. Increase heat to high and continue to cook, whisking constantly, until sauce is thickened and smooth, 3 to 5 minutes.

Pass spoon through edges of pot to collect any butter-flour mixture that wasn’t fully incorporated and mix to combine. Stir in nutmeg; season with salt and pepper.

Assembly

Preheat oven to 350°. In a deep 13"-by-9" ceramic, glass, or metal baking dish, spread 1 1/2 cups Bolognese, followed by 3 pasta sheets and 3/4 cup béchamel. Sprinkle with about one-fifth of mozzarella and Parmesan. Repeat to make 5 layers, finishing with cheese.

Spray a sheet of foil with cooking spray. Cover dish oiled side down.

Bake lasagna 20 minutes, then increase oven temperature to 400°. Uncover and continue to bake until sides are bubbling and darkened and cheese starts to turn golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes.

Turn broiler to medium. Broil lasagna, watching closely, until top is toasted, about 1 minute.

Let cool 15 minutes. Top with parsley and serve.

Nutrition

• Calories: 858
• Total Fat: 55 g
• Saturated Fat: 25 g
• Trans Fat: 1 g
• Cholesterol: 152 mg
• Sodium: 1391 mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 42 g
• Dietary Fiber: 5 g
• Total Sugars: 15 g
• Protein: 43 g