Homemade Lasagna Recipe

Here’s a classic homemade lasagna recipe that’s sure to impress! This recipe layers delicious pasta with rich meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and gooey mozzarella.

Homemade Lasagna Recipe

Ingredients

For the Meat Sauce:

• 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage (or a mix)
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 teaspoon sugar (optional, to balance acidity)

For the Ricotta Mixture:

• 15 oz ricotta cheese
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley (or 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped)
• Salt and pepper to taste

For Assembling:

• 9-12 lasagna noodles (you can use no-boil noodles)
• 2-3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• Extra Parmesan cheese for topping

Instructions

1. Prepare the Meat Sauce:

   • In a large skillet or saucepan, brown the ground beef or sausage over medium heat. Drain excess fat.
   • Add the chopped onion and garlic, and cook until softened.
   • Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, basil, salt, pepper, and sugar (if using). Simmer for 20-30 minutes to allow flavors to meld.

2. Prepare the Ricotta Mixture:

   • In a bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, egg, grated Parmesan, parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix until smooth.

3. Cook the Lasagna Noodles:

   • If using regular lasagna noodles, cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.

4. Assemble the Lasagna:

   • Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
   • Spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.
   • Layer 3-4 noodles over the sauce.
   • Spread half of the ricotta mixture over the noodles, followed by a layer of meat sauce and a layer of shredded mozzarella.
   • Repeat the layers (noodles, ricotta, meat sauce, mozzarella) until you’ve used all ingredients, finishing with noodles on top, covered with remaining meat sauce and mozzarella cheese.
   • Sprinkle extra Parmesan cheese on top.

5. Bake:

   • Cover the dish with aluminum foil (to prevent sticking, you can spray the foil with cooking spray).
   • Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes.
   • Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden.

6. Cool and Serve:

   • Let the lasagna cool for about 15-20 minutes before slicing. This will help it hold its shape when serving.
   • Garnish with fresh parsley if desired, and enjoy!

Tips:

• You can add vegetables like spinach or mushrooms to the meat sauce for extra flavor and nutrition.
• For a vegetarian version, use lentils or mushrooms in place of the meat.

Enjoy your delicious homemade lasagna!