Our most popular ground beef recipe of all time

It’s a delicious classic that never gets old, feeds a crowd, and even freezes well.

Ground beef is a workhorse in the kitchen. Turn it into tacos, burgers, or meatballs and you’re sure to have a satisfying meal. There really are infinite ways to turn a pound or two into dinner, so it’s hard to imagine that one recipe could be the best of the best.

Well, at Simply Recipes, lasagna is far and away the most popular ground beef recipe of all times—and there are quite a few of them on the site. Perhaps it’s easy to see why: It’s a delicious classic that never gets old, feeds a crowd, and even freezes well.

Read More: I Asked 4 Chefs the Secret to the Best Lasagna, and They All Said the Same Thing

What Makes This Lasagna Stand Out

In a sea of lasagna recipes, this one stands out because it has a few secrets that make it extra special. There is more cheese than many other recipes out there and according to me, that’s never a bad thing. There is also a little vinegar and sugar in the meat sauce, which makes it sing with flavor.

Aside from these little things, it’s the ease of preparation and ability to make the lasagna ahead of time that really proves its popularity. The meat sauce can simmer for as little as 15 or as long as 45 minutes, depending on how much time you have, and the lasagna can be kept frozen for months, either unbaked or baked. You can even bake the entire lasagna, enjoy some for dinner, then freeze leftover slices to reheat as needed.

Reader Variations To Try

With almost 600 reader comments, this recipe has been a hit over the years. It’s been fun to see just how many have made tweaks or adjustments to it. A few I particularly love (and have tried) are:

• Stir crushed fennel seed or other chopped fresh herbs, like rosemary or thyme, into the sauce
• Swap half of the ground beef with loose hot or sweet Italian sausage
• Add a layer of vegetables into the lasagne, like thawed frozen spinach that’s been squeezed dry, sautéed mushrooms, or grilled or roasted eggplant slices
• Replace the ricotta with cottage cheese
• Add red pepper flakes or cayenne to the sauce for a kick
• If you’re a garlic lover, bump up the number of cloves
• Replace the red or white wine vinegar with balsamic vinegar

Get Recipe with Title: The Best Homemade Lasagna

Read the original article on Simply Recipes