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Homemade Lasagna

A simple, filling, and flavorful classic lasagna, perfect for weeknight dinners or entertaining guests. This dish features layers of rich meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and gooey mozzarella, and it freezes well for future meals.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 450
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Meat Sauce
  • 1 lb Ground beef
  • 1 lb Italian sausage
  • 1 1/2 tsp Basil, dried leaves
  • 2 cloves Garlic, minced
  • 1 large Onion, chopped
  • 28 oz Tomatoes, crushed
  • 1 large Egg For the ricotta mixture
  • 6 oz Tomato paste
  • 15 oz Tomato sauce
  • 1/2 tsp Black pepper, ground
  • 1/2 tsp Fennel seeds
  • 2 tbsp Granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1 tbsp Olive oil For cooking
  • 12 pieces Lasagna noodles
  • 1 lb Mozzarella cheese, shredded For layering
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated For topping
  • 16 oz Ricotta cheese
  • 1/2 cup Water To add to the sauce

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add chopped onion and minced garlic, and sauté until softened.
  3. Add ground beef and Italian sausage to the skillet, cooking until browned. Drain excess fat.
  4. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, basil, black pepper, fennel seeds, granulated sugar, Italian seasoning, and salt. Add 1/2 cup water. Simmer for about 30 minutes.
  5. In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg, and some salt and pepper. Mix until smooth.
Assembly and Baking
  1. Spread a thin layer of the meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Layer 4 lasagna noodles, followed by one-third of the ricotta mixture, one-third of the mozzarella cheese, and one-fourth of the meat sauce. Repeat the layers two more times. Finish with a final layer of noodles, meat sauce, and top with remaining mozzarella and parmesan cheese.
  2. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 25 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly and golden.
  3. Let cool for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

For best results, brown the meat well and drain fat to avoid a greasy sauce. Simmer the sauce for at least 20–30 minutes for good flavor. You can boil noodles just until pliable if not using no-boil noodles. For a twist, consider using a lighter cheese mix or adding spinach.