Easy Homemade Lasagna Recipe: How to make

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Craving the rich, authentic flavors of Italy? This easy homemade lasagna recipe is your ticket to a comforting and satisfying meal. Perfect for family dinner or feeding a crowd, this classic Italian dish brings together perfectly layered pasta, savory meat sauce, and a creamy ricotta filling for the ultimate comfort food experience.¹ Impress your loved ones with a homemade meal that boasts traditional taste without the labor-intensive preparation.

How to Make Easy Lasagna: Step-by-Step

Making delicious lasagna is a process of building harmonious layers. Follow these steps for a perfect homemade lasagna.

1. Prepare the Meat Sauce:
   • In a large skillet, brown the ground beef. Drain excess fat.
   • Add diced onions, minced garlic, and Italian seasoning; sauté until fragrant.
   • Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and a splash of red wine or beef broth.
   • Simmer for at least 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, allowing flavors to meld. Season to taste.
2. Make the Ricotta Cheese Mixture:
   • In a bowl, combine ricotta cheese with grated Parmesan and mozzarella cheese, eggs (as an egg binder), and fresh Italian herbs (basil, oregano, parsley). Stir until well combined but don’t overmix.
3. Prepare Lasagna Noodles:
   • If using regular lasagna noodles, boil them according to package directions until al dente. Drain, rinse with cold water, and lay flat to prevent sticking. If using no-boil noodles, no pre-cooking is needed.
4. Assemble the Lasagna (Layering Techniques):
   • Start with Sauce: Spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish or lasagna pan.
   • Noodles: Place a single layer of lasagna noodles over the sauce, ensuring they cover the dish.
   • Ricotta: Spread half of the ricotta cheese mixture evenly over the noodles.
   • Meat Sauce: Top the ricotta with a generous layer of meat sauce.
   • Mozzarella: Sprinkle a layer of mozzarella cheese over the meat sauce.
   • Repeat: Add another layer of noodles, then the remaining ricotta mixture, more meat sauce, and more mozzarella.
   • Final Layer: Finish with a layer of noodles, topped generously with the remaining meat sauce and a final layer of mozzarella cheese.
5. Bake the Lasagna:
   • Cover the lasagna pan loosely with aluminum foil (you can spray the underside of the foil to prevent cheese from sticking).²
   • Bake in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 45 minutes.
   • Remove the foil and bake for another 15-20 minutes, or until the top is golden-brown and bubbly.
6. Rest and Serve:
   • Let the lasagna rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving. This allows the layers to set, making for cleaner cuts.

Easy Lasagna Recipe Card

Enjoy a comforting slice of Italy! This easy homemade lasagna features savory meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and melty mozzarella, perfect for any family dinner.³

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 60-70 minutes

Yields: 8-10 servings

Category: Main Dish

Method: Baked

Cuisine: Italian

Diet: Comfort Food

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 lb ground beef (or Italian sausage)⁴
• 1 large onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
• 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes⁵
• 1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• ¼ cup red wine or beef broth (optional)
• 15 oz ricotta cheese
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (for ricotta filling)
• 2 large eggs (egg binder)
• 2 tbsp fresh Italian herbs (basil, oregano, parsley), chopped
• 12-16 lasagna noodles (regular or no-boil noodles)
• 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (for layering and topping)
• Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Make Meat Sauce: Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Brown ground beef, drain fat. Add onion, garlic, Italian seasoning; sauté 5 min. Stir in crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and wine/broth (if using). Simmer meat sauce for at least 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season with salt/pepper.
2. Prepare Ricotta Mixture: In a bowl, combine ricotta cheese, Parmesan, 1 cup mozzarella, eggs, and fresh herbs. Mix well.
3. Cook Noodles: If using regular lasagna noodles, boil until al dente. Drain and rinse. If using no-boil noodles, skip this step.
4. Assemble Lasagna: Spread a thin layer of meat sauce in a 9×13 inch baking dish (lasagna pan). Layer with noodles, half of ricotta filling, more meat sauce, and 2 cups of the remaining mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers: noodles, remaining ricotta, more meat sauce, and 2 cups mozzarella.
5. Bake: Cover dish with foil. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake 15-20 minutes more, until golden-brown and bubbly.
6. Rest & Serve: Let lasagna rest 10-15 minutes before slicing. Serve with garlic bread or a fresh salad.

Best Practices for the Perfect Lasagna:

• Simmer Sauce: Allowing the meat sauce to simmer long enough develops deep flavors.
• Don’t Overmix Ricotta: Mix the ricotta filling just until combined for a creamy texture.
• Al Dente Noodles: If boiling, cook lasagna noodles just al dente as they will continue to cook in the oven.⁶
• Resting is Key: Let the baked lasagna rest before slicing for cleaner, more intact layers.
• Freezer Friendly: This homemade lasagna freezes well! Cool completely, portion, and freeze in airtight containers for future comfort food meals.