Crafting the Beef Lombardi Casserole becomes effortless with these straightforward steps:

1. Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking.
2. Cook the Beef: In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat. Drain excess fat.
3. Sauté the Veggies: Add chopped onion and minced garlic to the beef. Sauté until the onion is translucent.
4. Add the Sauce: Stir in the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Simmer for about 10 minutes.
5. Combine with Pasta: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta with the beef mixture and mix well.
6. Layering Cheese: In a separate bowl, mix the cottage cheese and half of the mozzarella cheese.
7. Assembly: In a greased baking dish, layer half of the beef and pasta mixture, followed by half of the cottage cheese mixture, and sprinkle with a portion of the Parmesan cheese.
8. Repeat Layers: Add the remaining beef and pasta mixture, the remaining cottage cheese, and top with the rest of the mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese.
9. Bake: Cover with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
10. Garnish: Once out of the oven, let the casserole sit for about 10 minutes before garnishing with fresh parsley.

With these steps, you are on your way to creating a mouthwatering Beef Lombardi Casserole that will impress everyone at your dinner table.