Quick & Cheesy: The Best Homemade Lasagna Recipe You’ll Love
Crafting the perfect homemade lasagna demands passion and a sprinkle of culinary magic.
Layers of rich, savory goodness await your taste buds.
Authentic italian traditions blend seamlessly with modern cooking techniques.
Tender pasta sheets nestle between robust meat sauce and creamy cheese.
Every bite promises a comforting journey through classic comfort food.
Generations of kitchen wisdom infuse this delectable dish with soul-warming flavors.
Peek into this recipe, and you’ll discover the secret to creating an unforgettable meal that brings smiles around the dinner table.
Ingredients in Classic Lasagna
Meat Base:Sauce Ingredients:Cheese Components:Pasta and Additional Ingredients:Lasagna Layering Instructions
Step 1: Create Flavor-Packed Meat Sauce
Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
Sauté chopped onions and minced garlic until they turn soft and fragrant.
Add ground beef and cook until it browns completely.
If there’s extra fat, drain it away.
Pour in:Let the sauce simmer on low heat for 30-45 minutes, stirring occasionally to develop deep, rich flavors.
Step 2: Whip Up Creamy Cheese Blend
In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese with grated Parmesan, egg, chopped parsley, salt, and black pepper.
Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well integrated.
Step 3: Warm Up The Oven
Set your oven to 375°F and let it preheat while you prepare the layers.
Step 4: Build Delicious Layers
Spread a thin meat sauce layer in a 9×13-inch baking dish.
Arrange cooked lasagna noodles, then layer:Repeat these layers three times, ending with meat sauce and a generous cheese topping.
Step 5: Bake To Perfection
Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes.
Remove foil and continue baking 15-20 minutes until cheese turns golden and bubbly.
Step 6: Let It Rest
Allow lasagna to settle for 15 minutes, helping layers set and making cutting easier.
Step 7: Serve And Celebrate
Garnish with fresh herbs like parsley or basil.
Slice and serve your incredible homemade lasagna!
Smart Tips for Homemade Lasagna
Store and Reheat Lasagna Properly
What to Serve with Lasagna
Perfect Food and Drink Pairings for Homemade Lasagna:Flavorful Lasagna Variations
FAQs
Add a splash of red wine during simmering, use fresh herbs like basil and oregano, and let the sauce cook slowly to develop deeper flavors. The longer it simmers, the more rich and complex the taste becomes.
Pat ricotta cheese dry with paper towels before mixing, and drain excess liquid from ground beef after cooking. This helps reduce moisture and keeps your lasagna layers firm and structured.
Absolutely! Ground turkey, Italian sausage, or a plant-based meat alternative work well. Each will bring a unique flavor profile to your lasagna while maintaining the dish’s classic texture.
Start with a thin sauce layer on the bottom, alternate noodles, cheese mixture, meat sauce, and mozzarella. Ensure even distribution and end with a generous cheese topping for a golden, crispy finish.
Why This Lasagna Recipe Wins
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Best Homemade Lasagna Recipe
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 8 1x
Description
Scrumptious layers of homemade lasagna reveal Italian culinary magic between sheets of pasta, ricotta, and rich marinara. Melted cheese and herbs create a comforting masterpiece that brings family and friends together around the dinner table.
Ingredients
Meat and Protein:
- 1 pound (450 grams) ground beef
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 large egg
Herbs and Seasonings:
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley (chopped)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 onion (finely chopped)
- 1 can (28 ounces/794 grams) crushed tomatoes
- 1 can (14 ounces/397 grams) tomato sauce
- 2 cans (6 ounces/170 grams each) tomato paste
Liquid and Optional Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup red wine (optional)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Cheese Components:
- 2 cups ricotta cheese
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- Additional grated Parmesan for topping
Pasta:
- 9 lasagna noodles (cooked al dente according to package instructions)
Instructions
- Craft a robust meat sauce by sautéing aromatic onions and garlic in olive oil until translucent. Brown ground beef thoroughly, eliminating excess fat.
- Enhance the sauce with crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, paste, optional red wine, and a medley of herbs. Season with oregano, basil, sugar, salt, and pepper. Simmer gently for 30-45 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and intensify.
- Prepare the creamy cheese filling by whisking ricotta, Parmesan, egg, parsley, salt, and black pepper until smooth and well-integrated.
- Heat the oven to 375°F, creating an ideal baking environment for layered perfection.
- Construct the lasagna foundation by spreading a thin meat sauce layer in a 9×13-inch baking dish. Carefully arrange cooked lasagna noodles as the first structural layer.
- Build subsequent layers systematically: spread ricotta mixture, distribute mozzarella generously. Repeat layering process, ensuring even coverage and balanced ingredients.
- Culminate the layering with a final meat sauce blanket and abundant mozzarella and Parmesan cheese topping.
- Shield the lasagna with aluminum foil, bake for 25 minutes. Uncover and continue baking 15-20 minutes until cheese transforms into a golden, bubbling crust.
- Allow the lasagna to rest 15 minutes, enabling layers to set and flavors to stabilize before serving.
- Garnish with fresh herbs, slice, and savor the rich, comforting masterpiece.
Notes
- Prevent watery lasagna by draining ground beef thoroughly and using minimal liquid in meat sauce.
- Create a lighter version by substituting ground turkey or plant-based meat alternatives for traditional beef.
- Enhance flavor depth by adding a splash of balsamic vinegar or Worcestershire sauce to the meat sauce for extra complexity.
- Make ahead and freeze lasagna before baking for convenient meal preparation, storing up to 3 months in an airtight container.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg
Olivia Bennett
Recipe Developer & Culinary Educator
Expertise
Education
Schoolcraft College
With an Associate Degree in Culinary Arts from Schoolcraft College and a natural knack for teaching, Olivia Bennett’s all about making home cooking feel possible, even on your busiest day.
Her thing? Recipes that are budget-friendly, season-forward, and full of Southern warmth. Whether it’s a roasted veggie bowl or a five-ingredient skillet bake, Olivia makes sure it’s simple, satisfying, and something you’ll want to make again tomorrow.
When she’s not shooting step-by-step videos or testing spice blends, she’s out foraging, flipping through old cookbooks, or throwing laid-back dinner parties with a BYO-mason-jar theme.