1-Preparing the Noodles and Meat Sauce: First, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Boil salted water and cook the lasagna noodles until they’re firm but done, then drain and cool them to prevent sticking. While the water heats, start preparing your meat sauce. Brown the ground beef, Italian sausage, diced yellow onion, and minced garlic in a skillet. Once browned, drain the excess fat, then add the pasta sauce, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer the mixture until it thickens slightly, which will help prevent a watery lasagna.

2-Making the Cheese Filling: While your sauce simmers, prepare the cheese mixture by combining the ricotta or cottage cheese, 3 cups of the shredded mozzarella cheese, ¼ cup of the shredded parmesan cheese, chopped fresh parsley, beaten egg, and a pinch of salt in a bowl. Mix until well combined. This mixture will create the creamy layers between your noodles and sauce.

3-Assembling and Baking Your Lasagna: In a 9×13 inch (23×33 cm) baking dish, start with 1 cup of the meat sauce spread on the bottom. Layer 3 noodles over the sauce, followed by 1 cup of the cheese mixture and another cup of sauce. Repeat these layers twice more, finishing with noodles and sauce on top. Cover the lasagna with foil and bake for 45 minutes. After 45 minutes, remove the foil and sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella and ¼ cup of parmesan on top. Bake for another 15 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden. Allow the lasagna to rest for at least 15 minutes before serving, which will help it hold its shape when cut.