
In a large pot or Dutch oven, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat. Drain off any excess grease. Add the chopped onion and garlic and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, sugar, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat and cook for at least 30 minutes, or up to 1-2 hours, stirring occasionally.
While the meat sauce is simmering, prepare the béchamel sauce. In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes, until smooth and golden.
Gradually whisk in the milk, ensuring there are no lumps. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat and cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce has thickened, about 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the grated Parmesan cheese, salt, and nutmeg.
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
Spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom of the dish. Arrange a layer of lasagna noodles over the sauce, overlapping as needed. Spread half of the ricotta cheese over the noodles, followed by a layer of meat sauce and a layer of béchamel sauce. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.
Repeat layers: noodles, ricotta, meat sauce, béchamel sauce, and mozzarella cheese. Top with a final layer of noodles, meat sauce, béchamel sauce, and mozzarella cheese.
Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the lasagna is heated through.
Let the lasagna rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving.
It was okay. The lasagna was a bit dry, and I think it needed more sauce. I might try adding some ricotta cheese to the layers next time to add moisture.
Really good lasagna. I added some garlic and onion to the meat sauce, and it gave it a great depth of flavor. Will be making this again.
Five stars! This lasagna is restaurant-quality. The béchamel sauce is the star of the show. Delicious!
Very good lasagna. I made it with a few modifications and it turned out great. I added a bit of red pepper flakes for a kick.
Very easy to make and very delicious. The best part was the meat sauce and the melted cheese. I will definitely use this recipe again.