Magnifico Three Meat Lasagna

Recipe

1. Make the meat sauce: Cook and stir ground beef and Italian sausage in a large saucepan over medium heat until browned and crumbly, about 10 minutes. Stir in salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and pepper flakes. Increase the heat to medium-high for 4 to 6 minutes.

2. Pour marinara sauce into meat mixture. (If using jarred sauce, add a little water to each jar and shake to get all sauce out of the jar; add to meat mixture.) Reduce the heat to low and simmer until meat is extremely tender, about 2 hours; add more water if sauce becomes too thick. Skim fat, then season sauce with salt and black pepper. Turn off the heat.

3. When the sauce is almost finished, make the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook lasagna in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until cooked through but firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain and rinse lasagna noodles; set aside in a bowl of cold water.

4. While the pasta is cooking, make the filling: Whisk eggs in a large bowl, then stir in ricotta, mozzarella, Parmigiano-Reggiano, parsley, salt, and black pepper.

5. When the sauce, pasta, and filling are ready, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

6. Divide sauce into fourths, noodles into thirds, and filling in half for layering. Layer ingredients in a 13x9 inch baking pan, spreading out to fill the pan, as follows: one part sauce (layer with pepperoni also), one part noodles, one part filling. Repeat once more. Add one part sauce, then tap the dish lightly on a sturdy work surface to settle the layers. Continue with one part noodles and one part sauce. Sprinkle remaining fresh mozzarella and Parmigiano-Reggiano over top.

7. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil, making sure it doesn't touch the cheese. Place onto a baking sheet to catch any spills.

8. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and continue to bake until golden brown and bubbly, 30 to 35 more minutes. Let sit for 20 minutes before serving.

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground Italian sausage

• 1 1/2 pounds 80/20 ground beef

• Pack of pepperoni

• 1 teaspoon salt

• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

• ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning

• ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

• 6 cups prepared marinara sauce

• ¼ cup water, or as needed (Optional)

Pasta:

• 1 (16 ounce) package lasagna noodles

Ricotta Filling:

• 2 large eggs

• 2 pounds whole-milk ricotta cheese

• 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, diced

• 2/3 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-

  Reggiano cheese

• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Cheese Topping:

• 4 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, diced

• ½ cup freshly shredded Parmigiano-

  Reggiano cheese

Equipment

• Medium to Large mixing bowls

• Small mixing bowl

• 13x9 casserole dish

• Measuring cups

• Tbs/Tsp

• Chef's knife

• Cutting board

• Sauté pan

• Pot

• Baking sheet