The popularity of this easy, cheesy, classic lasagna recipe floors us. Our families have loved its layers of cheese, homemade meat sauce, noodles, creamy ricotta and basil for ages! But it’s so nice to hear from you that our favorite lasagna recipe has become your go-to, right along with our cozy, Award-Winning Chili. Sure, it takes time to make (if you need a less-involved lasagna recipe, try our Crockpot Vegetable Lasagna). But homemade lasagna is the BEST, it’s not that hard to make, and most of all, it’s worth it every time. If you’ve got a busy week ahead, it’s great for making ahead, too. For a vegetarian lasagna, try our rich Mushroom Lasagna recipe!
Why We Love This Lasagna Recipe
It’s simple. It might take a little time, but making lasagna from scratch is easy. Even new cooks can nail it.
The ingredients are easy to find. Nothing fussy here! Any grocery store will have these classic lasagna ingredients.
It’s so much easier to make lasagna for a dinner party than other pasta recipes, because you do most of the work ahead of time. Get the lasagna in the oven, and go mingle with your friends! Dinner’s done.
This lasagna freezes beautifully! Got a friend who needs a little boost or maybe a meal train you need a recipe idea for? Make them a lasagna, freeze it, and your buddy will have a hearty, comforting meal that’ll last them days.
Lasagna Ingredients
Meat sauce: Ground beef (or you could use ground Italian sausage, pork, turkey or chicken), onion, fresh garlic, tomato paste, crushed tomatoes come together to make a quick meat sauce.
Ricotta cheese filling: creamy ricotta cheese, egg, fresh basil.
Lasagna noodles: We recommend the kind of lasagna noodles that are NOT no-boil. The no-boil noodles soak up too much liquid and we think they can make the finished lasagna dry.
More cheese! Lasagna isn’t lasagna without mozzarella — that classic melty Italian cheese — and Parmesan! It’s OK to use pre-shredded mozzarella but we don’t suggest using pre-shredded Parmesan. Even just a dusting of the fancy Parmesan cheese will go a long way towards giving your finished lasagna that rich, deep flavor that you crave!
How to Make Lasagna
Make meat sauce! Brown the ground beef, onion and garlic. Add tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning and sugar and simmer for 10 minutes.
Noodles! While the sauce simmers, boil the lasagna noodles. Keep them al dente, since they will bake, too!
Ricotta! Make the filling for the lasagna’s ricotta layer by whisking together ricotta, egg, Parmesan, salt, pepper and basil (if you’re using it).
Assemble the lasagna layers! Remember, it goes: noodles, sauce, ricotta, mozzarella.
Bake! Covered for 30 minutes, then uncovered for another 20 until the top is all bubbly.
How To Layer Lasagna for Picture-Perfection
You’ll begin the lasagna layering process by spooning a bit of sauce on the bottom of the baking dish, and then you’ll begin.
Lasagna layers are:
Layer 1: Lasagna noodles
Layer 2: Sauce
Layer 3: Ricotta cheese mixture
Layer 4: Mozzarella cheese
Repeat! For this recipe, you should be able to get about four lasagna layers.
To finish: Top the lasagna with one last layer of noodles, sauce and cheese.
What to Serve With Lasagna
This lasagna is so good, we’ve been known to eat it straight from the pan — no side dishes, no plates! But to round it out into a full (more balanced) dinner, try serving lasagna with other italian favorites, or simple veggie side dishes, like:
Simple Italian Salad (just like Olive Garden, but better!)
How to Freeze Lasagna
To freeze your lasagna, make the lasagna and let it cool completely. Cover it tightly with plastic wrap and then a layer or two of tin foil. Label it clearly with a “made on” or “good until” date, and pop it in the freezer. Lasagna can be frozen for up to 3 months. Hot tip: If we know we’re going to freeze lasagna, we usually bake it in a tin pan rather than a baking dish, especially if we plan to give it away.
More Classic Baked Pasta Recipes
Let’s See Your Best Lasagna
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