Cheesy Meat Lasagna

Total Time: 40 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 9 lasagna noodles, shells (cooked according to package directions)
• 1 1/2 lbs ground beef (i use chuck)
• salt (season to taste)
• pepper
• garlic salt
• 1/2 onion (sauteed, can use other vegs. like mushrooms, peppers, etc)
• 1 (1 1/3 kg) jar pasta sauce (i use 2lb 13oz jar of ragu traditional)
• 16 ounces cottage cheese (can also use ricotta)
• 1 egg (slightly beaten with fork)
• 2 cups cheese (mozzarella or italian blend works good)
• salt (lightly)
• pepper
• 2 cups cheese (mozzarella or italian blend to top)

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 350°f
• 2 boil and cook shells as directed
• 3 brown ground beef, season, and drain grease (reserve 1 tsp).
• 4 saute onions (or other vegetables in same pan using approx 1 tsp reserved grease -- add more if needed or use butter or other oil).
• 5 combine ground beef, onions, and pasta sauce in same pan. cover and simmer on low while you prepare the rest of the meal. stir occasionally.
• 6 mix cottage cheese, egg, then salt and pepper lightly. mix well and add 2 cups cheese. mix again.
• 7 spray a 13x9 inch baking pan and begin to layer in order -- shells, cottage cheese mix, meat sauce (repeat 3 times) and finish off by topping 1-2 cups mozzarella or italian blend cheese onto lasagna.
• 8 bake for 20-30 minutes uncovered or until cheese is melted to your preference. i like to sprinkle an italian blend seasoning or crushed red pepper on our individual servings. we serve this with garlic bread and a salad.
• 9 let stand approximately 20 minutes before cutting/serving (to set up or else it is too saucy). i use this time to make the salad and toast the garlic bread. this meal tastes even better the next day!