Easy Homemade Lasagna Recipe

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This Simple and easy homemade lasagna recipe is filled with rich tomato/beef sauce, ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese between lasagna noodles.

This easy lasagna recipe is very popular in my family because it’s a hearty comfort dish that melts in your mouth. At first glance, the instructions seem complicated, but despite the number of cooking steps, it is an easy lasagna recipe and it’s delicious.

Lasagna Ingredients:

Olive oil: Needed to saute onions and garlic.
Onion: Add flavor to the tomato/beef sauce.
Minced garlic: You can use garlic powder instead.
Ground beef: Makes a perfect bolognese sauce. You can also use ground pork, Italian sausage or ground turkey.
Ground pork: You can also use Italian sausage if you are looking for a more traditional lasagna recipe.
Diced tomatoes and tomato paste: Give a rich tomato flavor.
Ricotta cheese: makes the perfect creamy layer.
Sugar: Enhances the flavor of the tomatoes in the bolognese sauce s.
Dried basil and dried oregano: You can also use Italian seasonings instead.
Crushed red pepper flakes: You can skip this ingredient if you don’t like the slightly spicy taste.
Lasagna noodles: Cook noodles until al dente for this easy lasagna recipe.
Mozzarella cheese: Perfect cheese for lasagna.

How to make homemade lasagna?

Preheat the oven to 375F.
In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and saute for 4-5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute until fragrant.
Add the ground beef and ground pork to the garlic and onion mixture. Cook until browned. Drain the excess fat and season with salt and pepper.
Add the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, basil, oregano, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer, and place the lid on. Cook, covered for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat.
In a large pot with boiling water, cook lasagna noodles until al dente according to the package instructions.
In a bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, egg, dried basil, and salt. Set aside.
Grease or butter a 9×13-inch baking pan. Spread the bolognese sauce just to cover the bottom of the pan. Top with 3 lasagna noodles.
Spread 1/3 of the remaining bolognese sauce on top of the noodles. Cover with 1/3 of the ricotta mixture. Then, sprinkle 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese.
Repeat a second layer (3 cooked lasagna noodles, 1/3 bolognese sauce, 1/3 ricotta mixture, 1 cup mozzarella).
Top with the remaining 3 lasagna noodles, sauce, ricotta mixture, 2 cups mozzarella cheese, and Parmesan cheese.
Cover with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes. Then, remove the foil and cook until the cheese is melted about 10-15 minutes longer, or broil for a few minutes. Slice and enjoy!

How many layers should lasagna have?

The number of layers may vary depending on the size of your baking dish or the amount of filling. Usually, we make 3 layers in lasagna, but 4 layers are also delicious.

How long does homemade lasagna last?

You can store leftover lasagna in the fridge for up to 4 days. Usually, we finish any leftovers the following day because it’s really hard to resist.

Make Ahead:

You can make this lasagna day ahead. Just prepare the bolognese sauce, pre-cook the lasagna noodles, and make the ricotta filling. Assemble the lasagna and wrap it with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Refrigerate. The baking time may increase. Bake it covered until bubbly, then remove the foil and cook until golden.

To Freeze Lasagna:

This easy lasagna recipe is good for freezing. Just wrap it tightly with freezer-safe plastic wrap and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Yield: 8

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour 35 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes

Ingredients

For the bolognese sauce:

1 tbsp olive oil;
1 yellow onion, diced;
2 garlic cloves, minced;
1 pound ground beef;
½ pound ground pork;
28 oz diced tomatoes;
2 tbsp tomato paste;
1 tbsp granulated sugar;
½ tsp dried basil;
½ tsp dried oregano;
½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes;
salt and pepper to taste.

For the ricotta filling:

16 oz ricotta cheese;
1 large egg;
¼ tsp dried basil;
salt, to taste;

To assemble the lasagna:

9 lasagna noodles, uncooked;
4 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded and divided;
¼ cup Parmesan cheese.

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375 F. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and saute for 4-5 minutes.
Add the minced garlic and cook for up to 1 minute until fragrant.
Next, add ground beef and ground pork to the garlic and onion mixture. Cook until browned. Drain the excess fat and season with salt and pepper.
Pour in the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, basil, oregano, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer, and cover with a lid.
Cook covered for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat.
In a large pot with boiling water, cook the lasagna noodles until al dente according to the package instructions.
In a bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, egg, dried basil, and salt. Set aside.
Grease or butter a 9x13-inch baking pan. Spread bolognese sauce just to cover the bottom of the pan.
Top with 3 lasagna noodles. Spread 1/3 of the remaining bolognese sauce on top of the noodles. Cover with 1/3 of the ricotta mixture. Then, sprinkle 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese. Repeat with the second layer (3 cooked lasagna noodles, 1/3 tomato sauce, 1/3 ricotta mixture, 1 cup mozzarella).
Top with the remaining 3 lasagna noodles, sauce, ricotta mixture, 2 cups mozzarella cheese, and Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes. Then, remove the foil and cook until the cheese is melted for 10-15 minutes more, or broil for a few minutes. Slice and enjoy!

Nutrition Information:

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 599Total Fat: 25.7gSaturated Fat: 10.3gCholesterol: 145mgSodium: 774mgCarbohydrates: 50.2gFiber: 2.3gSugar: 6.2gProtein: 41.8g

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