Description
This Easy Homemade Lasagna recipe combines layers of tender pasta, rich meat sauce, and a creamy cheese mixture, all baked to golden perfection. Featuring lean ground beef, Italian sausage, and a blend of mozzarella, parmesan, and ricotta cheeses, this classic Italian dish is both comforting and crowd-pleasing, ideal for family dinners or special occasions.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 lasagna noodles (uncooked)
Cheese Mixture
- 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (divided)
- ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese (divided)
- 2 cups ricotta cheese (or cottage cheese)
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1 large egg (beaten)
Meat Sauce
- ½ pound lean ground beef
- ½ pound Italian sausage
- 1 yellow onion (diced)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 36 ounces pasta sauce
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¾ teaspoon salt (divided, more to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat and Cook Noodles: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add lasagna noodles, and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Drain noodles, rinse under cold water to stop cooking, and set aside.
- Prepare Meat Sauce: In a large skillet or Dutch oven, brown the ground beef, Italian sausage, diced onion, and minced garlic over medium-high heat until no pink remains. Drain any excess fat.
- Simmer Sauce: Stir in the pasta sauce, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Simmer uncovered over medium heat for about 5 minutes until slightly thickened. Taste and adjust salt as needed.
- Mix Cheese Filling: In a medium bowl, combine 1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese, ¼ cup parmesan cheese, ricotta cheese, chopped parsley, beaten egg, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Mix well to blend all ingredients.
- Assemble Lasagna: Spread 1 cup of meat sauce evenly in a 9×13-inch baking dish. Layer with 3 lasagna noodles. Spread one-third of the ricotta cheese mixture over noodles, then add 1 cup of meat sauce on top. Repeat layering two more times, finishing with 3 noodles topped with the remaining meat sauce.
- Bake Covered: Cover the dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes.
- Add Topping and Bake Uncovered: Remove the foil, sprinkle the top with remaining 2 ½ cups mozzarella cheese and ¼ cup parmesan cheese. Bake uncovered for an additional 15 minutes or until the cheese is browned and bubbly. Optional: Broil for 2-3 minutes for extra browning.
- Rest and Serve: Let lasagna rest for at least 15 minutes before cutting and serving to allow it to set and enhance flavors.
Notes
- This lasagna can be customized by substituting ricotta with cottage cheese if preferred.
- Letting the lasagna rest before slicing helps it hold its layers better.
- Broiling at the end adds a beautiful golden crust to the cheese topping.
- Use lean meat to reduce fat but keep rich flavor.
- The sauce can be homemade or store-bought depending on time and preference.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 377 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 857 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 29 g
- Cholesterol: 71 mg
