Easy Homemade Lasagna Recipe - Top Recipes (2024)

Jump to Recipe

This Simple and easy homemade lasagna recipe is filled with rich tomato/beef sauce, ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese between lasagna noodles. Easy Homemade Lasagna Recipe - Top Recipes (1)

This easy lasagna recipe is very popular in my family because it’s a hearty comfort dish that melts in your mouth. At first glance, the instructions seem complicated, but despite the number of cooking steps, it is an easy lasagna recipe and it’s delicious.

Lasagna Ingredients:

  • Olive oil: Needed to saute onions and garlic.
  • Onion: Add flavor to the tomato/beef sauce.
  • Minced garlic: You can use garlic powder instead.
  • Ground beef: Makes a perfect bolognese sauce. You can also use ground pork, Italian sausage or ground turkey.
  • Ground pork: You can also use Italian sausage if you are looking for a more traditional lasagna recipe.
  • Diced tomatoes and tomato paste: Give a rich tomato flavor.
  • Ricotta cheese: makes the perfect creamy layer.
  • Sugar: Enhances the flavor of the tomatoes in the bolognese sauce s.
  • Dried basil and dried oregano: You can also use Italian seasonings instead.
  • Crushed red pepper flakes: You can skip this ingredient if you don’t like the slightly spicy taste.
  • Lasagna noodles: Cook noodles until al dente for this easy lasagna recipe.
  • Mozzarella cheese: Perfect cheese for lasagna.

Easy Homemade Lasagna Recipe - Top Recipes (2)

How to make homemade lasagna?

  • Preheat the oven to 375F.
  • In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and saute for 4-5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute until fragrant.
  • Add the ground beef and ground pork to the garlic and onion mixture. Cook until browned. Drain the excess fat and season with salt and pepper.
  • Add the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, basil, oregano, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer, and place the lid on. Cook, covered for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat.
  • In a large pot with boiling water, cook lasagna noodles until al dente according to the package instructions.
  • In a bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, egg, dried basil, and salt. Set aside.
  • Grease or butter a 9×13-inch baking pan. Spread the bolognese sauce just to cover the bottom of the pan. Top with 3 lasagna noodles.
  • Spread 1/3 of the remaining bolognese sauce on top of the noodles. Cover with 1/3 of the ricotta mixture. Then, sprinkle 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese.
  • Repeat a second layer (3 cooked lasagna noodles, 1/3 bolognese sauce, 1/3 ricotta mixture, 1 cup mozzarella).
  • Top with the remaining 3 lasagna noodles, sauce, ricotta mixture, 2 cups mozzarella cheese, and Parmesan cheese.
  • Cover with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes. Then, remove the foil and cook until the cheese is melted about 10-15 minutes longer, or broil for a few minutes. Slice and enjoy!

Easy Homemade Lasagna Recipe - Top Recipes (3)

How many layers should lasagna have?

The number of layers may vary depending on the size of your baking dish or the amount of filling. Usually, we make 3 layers in lasagna, but 4 layers are also delicious.

How long does homemade lasagna last?

You can store leftover lasagna in the fridge for up to 4 days. Usually, we finish any leftovers the following day because it’s really hard to resist.

Make Ahead:

You can make this lasagna day ahead. Just prepare the bolognese sauce, pre-cook the lasagna noodles, and make the ricotta filling. Assemble the lasagna and wrap it with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Refrigerate. The baking time may increase. Bake it covered until bubbly, then remove the foil and cook until golden.

To Freeze Lasagna:

This easy lasagna recipe is good for freezing. Just wrap it tightly with freezer-safe plastic wrap and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Easy Homemade Lasagna Recipe - Top Recipes (4)

Easy Homemade Lasagna Recipe

Yield: 8

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour 35 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes

This Simple and easy homemade lasagna recipe is filled with rich tomato/beef sauce, ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese between lasagna noodles.

Ingredients

For the bolognese sauce:

  • 1 tbsp olive oil;
  • 1 yellow onion, diced;
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced;
  • 1 pound ground beef;
  • ½ pound ground pork;
  • 28 oz diced tomatoes;
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste;
  • 1 tbsp granulated sugar;
  • ½ tsp dried basil;
  • ½ tsp dried oregano;
  • ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes;
  • salt and pepper to taste.

For the ricotta filling:

  • 16 oz ricotta cheese;
  • 1 large egg;
  • ¼ tsp dried basil;
  • salt, to taste;

To assemble the lasagna:

  • 9 lasagna noodles, uncooked;
  • 4 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded and divided;
  • ¼ cup Parmesan cheese.

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 F. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and saute for 4-5 minutes.

    Easy Homemade Lasagna Recipe - Top Recipes (5)

  2. Add the minced garlic and cook for up to 1 minute until fragrant.

    Easy Homemade Lasagna Recipe - Top Recipes (6)

  3. Next, add ground beef and ground pork to the garlic and onion mixture. Cook until browned. Drain the excess fat and season with salt and pepper.

    Easy Homemade Lasagna Recipe - Top Recipes (7)

  4. Pour in the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, basil, oregano, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer, and cover with a lid.
    Cook covered for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat.

    Easy Homemade Lasagna Recipe - Top Recipes (8)

  5. In a large pot with boiling water, cook the lasagna noodles until al dente according to the package instructions.

    Easy Homemade Lasagna Recipe - Top Recipes (9)

  6. In a bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, egg, dried basil, and salt. Set aside.

    Easy Homemade Lasagna Recipe - Top Recipes (10)

  7. Grease or butter a 9x13-inch baking pan. Spread bolognese sauce just to cover the bottom of the pan.

    Easy Homemade Lasagna Recipe - Top Recipes (11)

  8. Top with 3 lasagna noodles. Spread 1/3 of the remaining bolognese sauce on top of the noodles. Cover with 1/3 of the ricotta mixture. Then, sprinkle 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese. Repeat with the second layer (3 cooked lasagna noodles, 1/3 tomato sauce, 1/3 ricotta mixture, 1 cup mozzarella).

    Easy Homemade Lasagna Recipe - Top Recipes (12)

  9. Top with the remaining 3 lasagna noodles, sauce, ricotta mixture, 2 cups mozzarella cheese, and Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes. Then, remove the foil and cook until the cheese is melted for 10-15 minutes more, or broil for a few minutes. Slice and enjoy!

    Easy Homemade Lasagna Recipe - Top Recipes (13)

Nutrition Information:

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 599Total Fat: 25.7gSaturated Fat: 10.3gCholesterol: 145mgSodium: 774mgCarbohydrates: 50.2gFiber: 2.3gSugar: 6.2gProtein: 41.8g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

Easy Homemade Lasagna Recipe - Top Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What can I add to my lasagna to make it taste better? ›

Dried herbs + spices: Crushed red pepper flakes, dried oregano, bay leaf, sea salt and lots of freshly-cracked black pepper. Fresh basil: When it comes to fresh basil, I vote the more the merrier with this lasagna recipe. We will chop and stir a good amount of basil into the cheese mixture.

What is the correct order to layer lasagna? ›

Quick Overview:
  1. The first thing that goes on the buttered tray is a layer of red sauce. This is so that nothing sticks to the bottom.
  2. After that, add a smaller layer of white sauce.
  3. Then finally a layer of pasta.
  4. Repeat the process: red sauce, white sauce, pasta.

Should the top layer of lasagna be cheese? ›

After the initial sauce layer, add a layer of pasta sheets, ricotta mixture (or bechamel), sauce, and cheese. Then repeat the layers. Top the last layer of your lasagna with sauce and cheese. You can also alternate layers of sauce and ricotta cheese.

What is better in lasagna, ricotta or cottage cheese? ›

When put into a lasagna, cottage cheese can remain lumpy and grainy, which is not ideal for a filling that's supposed to be smooth and creamy. Beyond having the incorrect texture, cottage cheese's flavor is sharper and more acidic than mild ricotta, which has a sweeter taste that doesn't clash with other ingredients.

What not to do when making lasagna? ›

A well-made lasagna can be a delicious and satisfying meal, just as long as it's cooked correctly.
  1. Not cooking the noodles correctly. ...
  2. Not having all the ingredients ready. ...
  3. Not browning the meat. ...
  4. Using the wrong cheese. ...
  5. Skipping the dairy sauce. ...
  6. Skimping on the amount of marinara. ...
  7. Improperly layering the noodles.
Feb 21, 2023

Why add tomato paste to lasagna? ›

Its mild flavor works really well with the mozzarella. Tomato Sauce & Paste: An important component in lasagna. Choosing your favorite tomato sauce will guarantee that you'll love this recipe. A good tomato paste helps to thicken but also adds a sweet and savory umami flavor.

Do you bake lasagna covered or uncovered? ›

Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes. Remove the foil and bake until cheese is golden brown, 5 to 10 more minutes. Remove from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes before cutting and serving.

How many layers is too many for lasagna? ›

FITTING IN ALL THE LAYERS

Generally, lasagna has about 3 or 4 layers of pasta, with sauce, ricotta cheese, mozzarella, béchamel, and sometimes meat or even meatballs or sausage between those layers. Our many layer lasagna has around 12 layers of pasta, or even more depending on how thin you end up rolling the dough.

How many layers does a traditional lasagna have? ›

Let me break it to you: If you want to make a lasagna, three layers just won't cut it! For the perfect lasagna, you need at least 4-5 layers to really enjoy all those mouth-watering flavors. And, here's a pro-tip: make sure to season each layer generously, but not too much. The average lasagna has 8 layers!

How to elevate your lasagna? ›

Up the luxe factor by infusing the white sauce with wild mushrooms, which provide a complementary flavour for the beef. Give the meat sauce a boozy kick with a generous measure of full-bodied red wine. It's important that you don't add too much liquid to the sauce – lasagne shouldn't be a sloppy dish.

How do you spice up bland lasagna? ›

Use vegetables like carrots, onions, and celery for flavor plus lots of garlic and herbs. If making a meat sauce, brown and season the ground meat before adding the tomatoes.

How to improve store-bought lasagna? ›

Put some olives, onions, and chopped tomatoes on top under another layer of cheese.

Why do you put milk in lasagna? ›

Milk. It tenderises the meat, to leave you with the most tender ragù.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Jamar Nader

Last Updated:

Views: 6159

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (75 voted)

Reviews: 82% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Jamar Nader

Birthday: 1995-02-28

Address: Apt. 536 6162 Reichel Greens, Port Zackaryside, CT 22682-9804

Phone: +9958384818317

Job: IT Representative

Hobby: Scrapbooking, Hiking, Hunting, Kite flying, Blacksmithing, Video gaming, Foraging

Introduction: My name is Jamar Nader, I am a fine, shiny, colorful, bright, nice, perfect, curious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.