If you’re using a very watery sauce, like a fresh tomato sauce, you might need to add a splash of water or broth to the dish before baking. The noodles need that extra liquid to plump up properly. Think of it as giving them a little spa treatment.
Also, don’t overcrowd the layers. Stick to three or four layers maximum. Too many dry noodles stacked together can end up a bit chewy in the middle. Trust the process—simple is better.
