Description
This homemade lasagna recipe features a rich meat sauce layered with creamy ricotta cheese filling, tender noodles, and melted mozzarella, baked to golden bubbly perfection. It’s a classic Italian-American dish perfect for family dinners or special occasions, offering comforting flavors and a hearty meal.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Meat Sauce:
- 1 pound ground beef (or Italian sausage)
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 1 can (6 oz) tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon sugar (optional)
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or basil (optional)
For the Cheese Filling:
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (or 1 teaspoon dried)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Other Ingredients:
- 9 lasagna noodles (regular or oven-ready)
- 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- Extra Parmesan for topping (optional)
Instructions
- Make the Meat Sauce: In a large skillet or saucepan, cook the ground beef and chopped onion over medium heat until browned and fully cooked. Drain any excess fat to keep the sauce from being greasy. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, dried basil, oregano, salt, black pepper, and sugar if desired to balance acidity. Let the sauce simmer on low heat for 20–30 minutes, stirring occasionally to blend flavors.
- Make the Cheese Filling: In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, beaten egg, grated Parmesan cheese, chopped parsley, and salt. Mix thoroughly until smooth and well incorporated. Set this mixture aside for layering.
- Cook the Noodles (if not using oven-ready): Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the lasagna noodles and cook according to package instructions until al dente, generally about 8-10 minutes. Drain the noodles and lay them flat on parchment paper or a lightly oiled surface to prevent sticking while you assemble the lasagna.
- Assemble the Lasagna: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). In a 9×13-inch baking dish, spread a thin layer of the meat sauce to cover the bottom. Layer 3 cooked noodles evenly over the sauce. Spread one-third of the ricotta cheese mixture over the noodles, then one-third of the meat sauce, and sprinkle with 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese. Repeat these layers two more times: noodles, ricotta, meat sauce, mozzarella. Finish with a final layer of mozzarella cheese and a sprinkle of extra Parmesan if desired.
- Bake: Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil to retain moisture and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove the foil carefully and continue baking for another 15–20 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and lightly golden. Once done, remove the lasagna from the oven and let it rest for 10–15 minutes before slicing to ensure clean portions and enhance flavor melding.
Notes
- You can prepare the lasagna assembly ahead of time and refrigerate, unbaked, for up to 1 day before baking, or freeze it for later use.
- Ricotta cheese can be substituted with cottage cheese if preferred for a slightly different texture.
- Adding spinach or other greens to the cheese filling is a delicious way to boost nutrition and flavor.
