Comforting Italian-Style Beef Lasagna with Garlic Bread and Simple Caesar Salad

Ingredients

• Beef lasagna
• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
• 1 (6 oz) can tomato paste?
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 1/4 teaspoons black pepper
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
• 9 lasagna noodles (oven-ready or regular)
• 15 oz ricotta cheese
• 1 large egg
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
• 2 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Garlic bread
• 1 loaf Italian bread (about 1 lb)
• 4 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (optional)
• Simple Caesar salad
• 1 large romaine heart (about 8 cups chopped)
• 1 cup croutons
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/3 cup Caesar dressing (store-bought)
• 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

Instructions

1. Beef lasagna: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook 4–5 minutes until softened.
2. Add ground beef to the skillet. Cook, breaking it up, until browned, 6–8 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
3. Stir in garlic and cook 30 seconds. Add tomato paste and cook 1 minute, stirring to coat the meat.
4. Pour in crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce. Add oregano, basil, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Simmer 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened and flavorful.
5. While the sauce simmers, make the ricotta layer: mix ricotta, egg, parsley, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
6. Preheat oven to 375°F. Spread a thin layer of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish.
7. Layer noodles (single layer). Add more sauce, then dollops of ricotta mixture, then sprinkle with mozzarella. Repeat for 2 more layers, finishing with sauce and mozzarella plus Parmesan on top.
8. Cover with foil and bake 35 minutes. Uncover and bake 10–15 minutes more until bubbling and the top is golden. Rest 15–20 minutes before slicing.
9. Garlic bread: Slice Italian bread in half lengthwise. Mix butter, minced garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper, and parsley (if using). Spread generously on cut sides.
10. Bake garlic bread at 375°F for 10–12 minutes until toasted and fragrant, or broil 1–2 minutes at the end for extra browning (watch closely).
11. Simple Caesar salad: In a large bowl, whisk Caesar dressing, lemon juice, Worcestershire, and minced garlic.
12. Add romaine and toss to coat. Sprinkle with Parmesan and croutons just before serving. Serve alongside lasagna and garlic bread.