Description
This Classic Lasagna with Meat Sauce recipe features layers of tender pasta, rich meat sauce, creamy ricotta cheese, and melted mozzarella, baked to golden perfection. Perfect for family dinners, this hearty Italian comfort food combines traditional flavors with easy-to-follow steps for a satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 9 lasagna noodles (oven-ready or traditional)
Meat Sauce
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 28 oz canned whole peeled tomatoes
- 15 oz tomato sauce (no added sugar)
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 2 tsp dried basil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Cheese Mixture
- 15 oz ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- 2 cups shredded whole milk mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it’s at the right temperature for baking the lasagna.
- Cook Meat Sauce: In a medium skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef along with the chopped onion and minced garlic until the beef is fully cooked and no longer pink. Drain any excess fat to keep the sauce lean.
- Simmer Sauce: Add the canned whole peeled tomatoes, tomato sauce, dried oregano, and dried basil to the skillet. Stir to combine and allow the mixture to simmer for 20 minutes to develop robust flavor.
- Prepare Cheese Mixture: In a separate bowl, mix the ricotta cheese with one egg, salt, pepper, and some freshly grated Parmesan cheese until smooth and well blended.
- Assemble Lasagna: Spread a layer of the meat sauce at the bottom of a baking dish. Begin layering with lasagna noodles, followed by the ricotta cheese mixture, a generous sprinkle of shredded mozzarella cheese, and then repeat these layers until all ingredients are used. Finish with a top layer of mozzarella cheese.
- Bake Covered: Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. This helps the lasagna cook evenly and retain moisture.
- Bake Uncovered: Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes or until the top is bubbly and golden brown.
- Rest and Serve: Let the lasagna cool slightly for about 10 minutes before slicing to allow it to set and make serving easier.
Notes
- Oven-ready lasagna noodles eliminate the need to boil noodles beforehand, saving prep time.
- Draining the fat after browning the beef helps reduce excess grease and keeps the dish lighter.
- Simmering the sauce develops deeper flavors and melds the herbs with the tomatoes.
- Using an egg in the ricotta mixture helps bind the cheese and adds creaminess.
- Allow the lasagna to rest before serving to ensure clean slices.