1-Prepare the Fillings and Sauce: Start by making the cheese filling. In a medium bowl, combine the 15 oz of ricotta cheese, one large egg, 2 cups of mozzarella cheese, ¾ cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese, 2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning, ½ teaspoon of salt, and ¼ teaspoon of pepper. Mix these ingredients thoroughly until they are well incorporated and set the bowl aside.

2-Prepare the Fillings and Sauce: Next, focus on the meat sauce. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet or pot over medium heat. Add the finely diced yellow onion and sauté it for about 10 minutes until it becomes soft and translucent. This builds a savory base for the sauce. Add the ¾ lb of ground beef and ¾ lb of ground Italian sausage to the pan. Cook the meat for 8 to 10 minutes, breaking it up with a spoon until it is browned and crumbly.

3-Prepare the Fillings and Sauce: During the last minute of cooking the meat, toss in the 3 cloves of minced garlic. This prevents the garlic from burning and becoming bitter. Once the meat is cooked, drain any excess grease from the pan to keep the lasagna from becoming too oily. Pour in ½ cup of chicken broth to deglaze the pan, scraping up any flavorful bits stuck to the bottom.

4-Prepare the Fillings and Sauce: Add the 40 oz of marinara sauce, 1 tablespoon of tomato paste, 1 teaspoon of hot sauce, and 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce. Stir everything together and bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer and let it cook partially covered while you prepare the noodles. This simmering process helps the flavors deepen and the sauce thicken slightly.

5-Boil the Noodles: While the sauce is simmering, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the 12 lasagna noodles and cook them until they are al dente, which means they should be tender but still have a slight bite to them. This usually takes a few minutes less than the package instructions because they will continue cooking in the oven.

6-Boil the Noodles: Drain the noodles and rinse them immediately with cold water to stop the cooking process. Lay them flat on a sheet of parchment paper. This prevents them from sticking together and makes them much easier to handle when layering.

7-Assemble the Layers: Now for the fun part, assembling the cozy lasagna. Take a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish and spread one heaping cup of the meat sauce on the bottom. This prevents the noodles from sticking to the dish. Place 4 noodles over the sauce, overlapping them slightly if necessary to fit the pan.

8-Assemble the Layers: Spread one-third of the ricotta cheese mixture evenly over the noodles. Spoon 1.5 cups of the meat sauce over the ricotta layer. Repeat this process two more times: noodles, ricotta mixture, and meat sauce. You will end up with three hearty layers of flavor.

9-Assemble the Layers: For the grand finale, top the final layer of meat sauce with the remaining 2.5 cups of mozzarella cheese. This will create a beautiful, golden-brown crust that everyone loves.

10-Bake to Perfection: Spray a piece of aluminum foil with nonstick cooking spray. This is crucial so the cheese does not stick to the foil when you remove it later. Cover the dish tightly with the sprayed side facing down.

11-Bake to Perfection: Bake the lasagna covered for 35 minutes. After that time, remove the foil and bake it uncovered for another 10 minutes. This allows the cheese to bubble and brown nicely. Once done, remove the lasagna from the oven and let it rest for 15 minutes before serving. This resting period is vital as it allows the layers to set, making it easier to cut clean slices. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.