Ingredients
Method
Make the Meat Sauce
- Heat a Dutch oven over medium heat. Brown the sausage and ground beef until well-colored.
- Add onion and garlic; cook until softened.
- Stir in crushed tomatoes, fire-roasted tomatoes, tomato paste, and ½ cup water.
- Season with dried basil, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, parsley, and a pinch of fennel seed.
- Simmer covered for at least 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. If you have time, let it go 1–1½ hours until thick and glossy.
Mix the Ricotta Filling
- In a bowl, whisk ricotta, egg, parsley, and salt until smooth.
- Add a little Parmigiano if you like.
- Chill for 10 minutes so it spreads nicely.
Prep Your Cheese
- Shred fresh mozzarella (chill it in the freezer for 10 minutes if too soft).
- Grate Parmigiano Reggiano fresh—this makes a big difference.
Layer the Lasagna
- Use a 9×13-inch baking dish at least 3 inches deep.
- Spread a generous layer of meat sauce on the bottom.
- Add a single layer of gluten-free noodles.
- Spread half of the ricotta mixture.
- Add mozzarella.
- Sprinkle Parmigiano.
- Repeat the whole process again.
- Make sure the top noodles are completely covered with sauce so they don’t dry out.
- Finish with mozzarella and Parmigiano.
Bake
- Cover with foil, tenting it so it doesn’t touch the cheese.
- Bake at 375°F for 25 minutes covered.
- Remove foil and bake another 20–25 minutes until the top is golden and bubbling.
- If the lasagna was refrigerated before baking, add extra time.
Rest Before Slicing
- Let the lasagna rest 10–20 minutes (up to 30 for taller layers).
- This is key for clean slices and stable layers.
Notes
- Always check meat, spices, tomato products, and cheese labels to keep the dish celiac-safe. Ingredients can change.
- If using Jovial or Tinkyada noodles, a quick 4-minute par-boil makes layering easier.
- A deep dish prevents spillovers; placing a sheet pan underneath helps too.
- Let the sauce cook longer when you can—slow simmering naturally reduces acidity, so sugar isn’t needed.
- Leftovers reheat well and stay firm with Barilla GF oven-ready sheets.
