Sausage Lasagna

Ingredients

• 1 lb Italian sausage, ground
• 9 Lasagna noodles
• 15 oz Ricotta cheese
• 2 cups Mozzarella cheese, shredded
• ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 24 oz Marinara sauce
• 1 Egg
• ½ cup Onion, chopped
• 2 cloves Garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp Olive oil
• ½ tsp Dried oregano
• 2 tbsp Fresh basil, chopped (optional)
• ½ tsp Salt
• ¼ tsp Black pepper

Steps

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook lasagna noodles according to package directions until al dente; drain and set aside.
2. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add ground Italian sausage and cook, breaking it apart, until browned. Drain excess fat. Add chopped onion and minced garlic; cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in marinara sauce and oregano; simmer for 10 minutes.
3. In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper.
4. To assemble, spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Arrange three lasagna noodles over the sauce. Spread half of the ricotta mixture over the noodles, then top with a layer of meat sauce and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.
5. Repeat the noodle, ricotta, sauce, and mozzarella layers. Top with the remaining three noodles, the rest of the meat sauce, and the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.
6. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly and lightly browned.
7. Let the lasagna rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving. Garnish with fresh basil if desired.