Step 1

Place lasagna noodles in a 9x13 casserole dish and cover with hot water. Allow noodles to soak while preparing the meat sauce - you can alternately pre-cook your lasagna noodles in boiling water OR use the lasagna noodles labeled "Oven Ready" that do not require pre-cooking.

Step 2

In large skillet, brown ground beef and Italian sausage until no pink remains. Drain any excess oil from the skillet.

Step 3

Add the minced garlic and saute 1-2 minutes longer, until fragrant.

Step 4

Next, add the marinara sauce and herbs to the skillet. Bring sauce to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, covered, about 20 minutes to allow the flavors to marry together.

Step 5

In a medium bowl, mix together ricotta, 1/2 cup parmesan, egg, salt, and pepper.

Step 6

Add the remaining parmesan cheese to the mozzarella cheese and toss together. Set aside for assembling the lasagna.

Step 7

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Step 8

Remove lasagna noodles from the water and set aside to assemble the lasagna. Discard the soaking water.

Step 9

Ladle just enough meat sauce into the casserole dish to cover the bottom of the pan.

Step 10

Top with a single layer of lasagna noodles, tearing any noodles in half to cover the entire area of the pan. Spread about 1/3 of the ricotta mixture over the noodles. Top with 1/3 of the remaining sauce mixture. Sprinkle 1 cup of mozzarella cheese mixture over the sauce.

Step 11

Continue layering noodles, ricotta, sauce, and cheese until you have made three layers. Top the final layer with 2 cups of mozzarella cheese.

Step 12

Cover the lasagna with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the aluminum foil and bake for an additional 20-30 minutes or until the lasagna is bubbling and the cheese melts and begins to brown around the edges.