Beef & spinach lasagna

Beef & Spinach Lasagna

PREP: 30 min

COOK: 1 hour 30 min

SERVES: 12

Ingredients.

• 12 lasagna noodles (oven-ready)

• 1 lb, lean ground beef

• 1 lb, ground sausage or pork

• 1/2 yellow onion, minced

• 4 garlic cloves, minced

• 1.5 cups fresh spinach

• 1 lb cremini mushrooms, sliced

• 1 can crushed tomatoes (28 oz)

• 1 can tomato paste (6 oz)

• 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded

• 1 cup parmesan cheese, grated

• 1/2 cup water

• 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flake

• Olive oil

• Salt and pepper

• Ricotta cheese mixture:

  • 1 egg, beaten

  • 2 cups ricotta cheese

  • 4 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

  • 1/2 tsp dried basil

  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano

Instructions.

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

2. Add olive oil to a large saute pan. Cook beef and sausage/pork until lightly browned on medium heat. Remove the beef from the pan and drain excess grease. Return the pan to medium heat and sautee onions and garlic. Add tomato paste and crushed red pepper, then cook until fragrant. Add crushed tomatoes and cook for 5-10 minutes.

3. In a 9x13 baking dish, spread 1 cup of meat sauce over the bottom. Add a layer of noodles.

4. Spread ricotta mixture over the noodles, then sprinkle with a layer of mozzarella and parmesan. Top cheese mixture with spinach. Repeat the layers. Add water to dish to help cook the noodles.

5. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 25 minutes.

6. Cool for 15 minutes before serving.

Meal-prep notes.

This recipe is meal prep and freezer friendly. Store and freeze the leftover lasagna for up to 3 months.

To reheat, microwave lasagna for 2-3 minutes on medium power.

Nutrition facts.

Ricotta is packed with calcium, vitamin B12, and zinc to support baby’s bones and nervous and immune systems.

Spinach is high in vitamin C and iron.

Mushrooms contain protein, fiber, B vitamins, and minerals.

For moms: Lasagna is an excellent source of essential nutrients—including protein (to promote baby’s growth as well as tissue repair, immune response, healing, and mood regulation for mom), calcium (bone health), and vitamin C (growth and development).

Sources: Solid Starts, Centers for Disease Control, WebMD, VeryWell, What to Expect

Kitchen tools.

Souper Cubes or Rubbermaid Brilliance containers for storage.

Adapted from.

All Recipes. World’s Best Lasagna (link)