Description
This Easy Homemade Lasagna recipe is a classic Italian favorite, featuring layers of tender lasagna noodles, savory meat sauce, creamy ricotta mixture, and a generous topping of melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Perfectly baked to a bubbly, golden perfection, this hearty dish is sure to satisfy the whole family with its rich flavors and comforting textures.
Ingredients
Scale
Lasagna Noodles
- 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 (see note)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¾ teaspoon salt (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 the lasagna noodles and cook until al dente (firm), following the package directions. Drain, rinse under cold water to stop the cooking, and set aside.
- Cook Meat Mixture: In a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef, Italian sausage, diced onion, and minced garlic until no pink remains. Drain off any excess fat to keep the sauce from being greasy.
- Prepare Meat Sauce: Stir in the pasta sauce, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper into the cooked meat mixture. Let it simmer uncovered over medium heat for about 5 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly. Adjust seasoning with additional salt as needed.
- Mix Cheese Filling: In a medium bowl, combine 1½ cups mozzarella cheese, ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, ricotta cheese, chopped parsley, beaten egg, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Mix well to create a smooth cheese filling.
- Assemble Lasagna: Spread 1 cup of the prepared meat sauce evenly over the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking pan or casserole dish. Layer three lasagna noodles on top, followed by one-third of the ricotta cheese mixture and 1 cup of meat sauce. Repeat these layers two more times, finishing with a final layer of three noodles topped with the remaining meat sauce.
- Bake Covered: Cover the pan tightly with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the noodles to cook through further.
- Add Cheese Topping and Finish Baking: Remove the foil and evenly sprinkle the remaining 2½ cups mozzarella cheese and ¼ cup Parmesan cheese over the top of the lasagna. Return to the oven and bake uncovered for an additional 15 minutes until the cheese is browned and bubbly. Optionally, broil for 2-3 minutes to achieve a golden crust.
- Rest Before Serving: Remove the lasagna from the oven and allow it to rest for at least 15 minutes before cutting and serving to help it set and maintain its layers.
Notes
- This homemade lasagna recipe is both delicious and simple to prepare, featuring classic layers of pasta, meat sauce, and cheese topped with a golden, melty cheese crust.
- For a lighter version, use low-fat cheeses or substitute cottage cheese for ricotta.
- Make sure to let the lasagna rest after baking; this helps it slice cleanly and retain moisture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 377 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 857 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 29 g
- Cholesterol: 71 mg
