Description
This Easy Homemade Lasagna recipe is a classic Italian-American comfort food featuring layers of tender noodles, savory meat sauce, creamy ricotta mixture, and melted mozzarella cheese. Perfect for family dinners, this recipe is straightforward to prepare with simple ingredients and baking techniques to ensure a hearty, satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Sauce
- 9 lasagna noodles
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 (24-ounce) jar marinara sauce
Cheese Mixture & Topping
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- Chopped fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the lasagna after assembling.
- Cook Noodles: Boil the lasagna noodles according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain them well and set aside to cool slightly.
- Sauté Vegetables: In a large skillet over medium heat, heat olive oil. Add the diced onion and sauté for 2–3 minutes until softened. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.
- Cook Meat: Add the ground beef to the skillet, breaking it apart with a spoon. Cook until browned and no longer pink. Season with salt, black pepper, dried basil, oregano, and red pepper flakes if using. Stir well to combine all flavors.
- Simmer Sauce: Pour in the marinara sauce and let the mixture simmer gently for 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld. Then remove the skillet from heat.
- Prepare Ricotta Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, egg, and grated Parmesan cheese. Mix until smooth and creamy.
- Assemble Lasagna: Spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish. Arrange 3 cooked noodles over the sauce. Spread one-third of the ricotta mixture evenly on the noodles, then one-third of the meat sauce, and top with one-third of the shredded mozzarella cheese. Repeat this layering process two more times, ending with mozzarella cheese on top.
- Bake Covered: Cover the assembled lasagna with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes to heat through and melt the cheese.
- Bake Uncovered: Remove the foil and continue baking uncovered for an additional 15–20 minutes, or until the cheese is golden, melted, and bubbly.
- Rest & Serve: Allow the lasagna to rest for 10 minutes after baking to set. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired, then slice and serve hot.
Notes
- You can prepare this lasagna ahead of time and refrigerate it unbaked for up to 24 hours before baking.
- For variations, substitute ground turkey or Italian sausage in place of ground beef.
- Use oven-ready lasagna noodles to save time and skip the boiling step if desired.
