Ahhh, lasagna 😍🍝—the ultimate comfort food. Cheesy layers, rich sauce, and baked until bubbly. Here’s a classic, foolproof homemade lasagna that never disappoints.
Classic Homemade Lasagna
Ingredients (serves 6–8)
Meat Sauce
- 1 lb ground beef (or beef + Italian sausage mix)
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara or spaghetti sauce
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt & pepper to taste
Cheese Mixture
- 15 oz ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- 1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp chopped parsley (optional)
Pasta
- 9 lasagna noodles, cooked and drained (or no-boil noodles)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven
- 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Make Meat Sauce
- Brown beef in a skillet. Drain excess fat.
- Add onion and garlic; cook until softened.
- Stir in marinara, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer 5–10 minutes.
- Prepare Cheese Layer
- Mix ricotta, egg, mozzarella, Parmesan, and parsley.
- Assemble Layers
- Spread a thin layer of meat sauce in the dish.
- Layer noodles → ricotta mixture → meat sauce.
- Repeat layers (usually 3 layers total).
- Finish with sauce and extra mozzarella on top.
- Bake
- Cover with foil and bake 30 minutes.
- Uncover and bake 15–20 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden.
- Rest & Serve
- Let rest 10–15 minutes before slicing.
Tips & Variations
- Extra creamy: Add ½ cup cream cheese to ricotta mixture.
- Vegetarian: Swap meat sauce for sautéed veggies.
- Make ahead: Assemble up to 24 hours ahead and bake later.
- Freezer-friendly: Freeze unbaked lasagna up to 3 months.
If you want, I can also give you a white chicken lasagna, a slow cooker lasagna, or a one-pan skillet lasagna—just tell me 😄
