A classic lasagna recipe featuring a creamy ricotta mixture, hearty meat sauce, and melted mozzarella cheese, perfect for family dinners and gatherings.
Author:michaelcarter
Prep Time:25 min
Cook Time:45 min
Total Time:70 min
Yield:8 servings 1x
Category:Dinner
Method:Baking
Cuisine:American
Diet:Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
1 pound ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
12 lasagna noodles
1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
In a large skillet, brown the ground beef with the onion and garlic. Drain off any excess grease.
Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, water, parsley, basil, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
While the sauce simmers, cook the lasagna noodles according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water.
In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, beaten egg, and Parmesan cheese. Mix well.
Spread a thin layer of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish.
Arrange 3 lasagna noodles over the sauce.
Spread half of the ricotta cheese mixture over the noodles.
Top with about one-third of the remaining meat sauce.
Sprinkle with one-third of the mozzarella cheese.
Repeat the layers: 3 noodles, remaining ricotta mixture, another third of the meat sauce, and another third of the mozzarella cheese.
Top with the remaining 6 noodles, the rest of the meat sauce, and the remaining mozzarella cheese.
Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil.
Bake for 25 minutes.
Remove the foil and bake for an additional 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Let the lasagna stand for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
For a make-ahead option, assemble the lasagna completely, cover tightly with plastic wrap and then foil, and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Bake as directed, adding an extra 10-15 minutes to the covered baking time.
This lasagna freezes well. Assemble and bake as directed, let cool completely, then cover tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat in a 350 degree F (175 degrees C) oven until heated through.
You can substitute ground turkey or Italian sausage for the ground beef.
Add a layer of cooked spinach to the ricotta mixture for added flavor and nutrients.