📖 Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish. A little spray of olive oil works wonders.
2. In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat. Drain off any excess grease. Nobody wants a greasy lasagna!
3. Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, sugar, dried oregano, dried basil, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper to the skillet with the browned beef. Stir to combine.
4. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low and let it cook for about 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. This helps the flavors meld together beautifully.
5. While the sauce is simmering, cook the lasagna noodles according to the package directions until they are al dente. Be careful not to overcook them; they need to be pliable enough to roll.
6. Drain the noodles and lay them flat on a clean surface (like parchment paper or a cutting board) to cool slightly. This will prevent them from sticking together.
7. In a large mixing bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg, chopped fresh parsley, salt, and black pepper. Mix well until everything is evenly distributed.
8. Spread a thin layer of the meat sauce (about 1 cup) evenly over the bottom of the prepared baking dish. This prevents the lasagna roll ups from sticking and adds flavor.
9. Take one lasagna noodle and spread about 1/4 to 1/3 cup of the ricotta cheese mixture evenly over the noodle. Be generous!
10. Carefully roll up the noodle, starting from one end and going all the way to the other. Place the roll up seam-side down in the prepared baking dish.
11. Repeat steps 9 and 10 with the remaining lasagna noodles and ricotta cheese mixture, arranging the roll ups snugly in the baking dish.
12. Pour the remaining meat sauce evenly over the lasagna roll ups, making sure they are well covered. Don't skimp on the sauce!
13. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese over the sauce. This will create a lovely, cheesy topping.
14. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes. Then, remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly browned. Keep an eye on it to prevent burning.
15. Let the lasagna roll ups casserole cool for about 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired. Enjoy every bite!