Christmas Traditions are my favorite and adding Austin’s traditions with mine are even more special! His mom makes a Christmas lasagna every year and if you know me by now there are a few things I love, carbs and cheese (lol!)

This is a pretty traditional lasagna! I add cottage cheese to the ricotta mixture which makes it extra creamy.

Let’s get started!

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 medium onion, chopped (optional)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 large can or jar of tomato sauce
• 1 15 oz can diced tomatoes
• 2 tsp Italian seasonings
• 1 tsp salt & pepper
• 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1 cup cottage cheese
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 16 oz box lasagna pasta, you will only need about 15 noodles or adjust to fit your pan.

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. In a large pan, add olive oil, chopped onions and garlic. Saute for 3-4 minutes.
3. Add ground beef and cook until completely browned, drain fat. Return to pan.
4. Add tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, Italian seasonings, salt and pepper.
5. Bring to a simmer and cook for approximately 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
6. Cook pasta according to package directions for al dente, rinse and set aside. You can also use the oven ready lasagna noodles as well!
7. While the pasta is cooking mix together your ricotta, cottage cheese, 1 egg, 1/2 cup of Parmesan and a dash of italian seasonings.
8. Lightly spray a baking dish with a non stick spray then add a small amount of meat mixture in the bottom of dish. Spread around.
9. Add lasagna noodles (approximately 3-5 depending on size of casserole dish, they will overlap onto each other).

10. Next, spread 1/2 of the ricotta cheese mixture on top of pasta.

11. Spoon 1/3 meat mixture on top.

12. Next add 1/3 of the mozzarella cheese.

13. Repeat with another layer of pasta, ricotta cheese mixture, meat mixture, mozzarella cheese.

14. Final layer is pasta, remaining meat mixture and cheddar cheese.

15. Cover with foil, cook for approximately 30 minutes (unless you’re using the oven ready noodles, follow those directions) Remove foil and cook for an additional 10 minutes.

Serve with garlic bread and enjoy!

Eat Till It Hurts Friends!