Classic Homemade Lasagna is a flavorful, cheesy, saucy, comfort food. If you like Italian recipes with creamy melted cheese between layers of pasta, Italian seasoning, and a hearty meat sauce, this delicious easy lasagna recipe is well worth the effort to make. This is a great recipe!
Originally published on 4/17/20
The Best Homemade Lasagna Recipe
Lasagna has long been a favorite Italian pasta recipe. Who can resist those layers of noodles and gooey mozzarella cheese, with a rich meat sauce to bring it all together? I sure can’t!
This is the best lasagna recipe, my original recipe, and has it all, with three layers of noodles, a creamy ricotta cheese mixture, and plenty of cheese and two kinds of meat. Nice and hearty.
What is the Best Meat for Lasagna?
You can use lean ground beef, which is very common, or ground turkey. I like a mixture of ground turkey and ground sausage. You can use any combination you like.
Does This Lasagna Recipe Use Cottage Cheese?
For this lasagna recipe you can use either ricotta cheese or cottage cheese.
About the Cheeses
• This lasagna recipe uses a few different cheeses: mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, and a creamy ricotta mixture (or use cottage cheese).
• The ricotta cheese filling, parmesan cheese, and mozzarella are for the lasagna layers, and the parmesan is also sprinkled on top of the lasagna.
• Feel free to use fresh mozzarella cheese if you like.
• The ricotta cheese filling, parmesan cheese, and mozzarella are for the lasagna layers, and the parmesan is also sprinkled on top of the lasagna.
Is This Lasagna Spicy?
No, but there are times when we want that heat. Try my secret ingredient, some hot Italian sausage or red pepper flakes to give the homemade meat sauce a spicy kick!
Can I Make This a Spinach Lasagna?
Yes, it’s easy! Just layer the chopped baby spinach or thawed and drained frozen chopped spinach after the ricotta layer.
Can Lasagna Be Made Ahead?
• Yes it can. You can assemble it and then freeze it before or after baking it. See my directions below.
• After you boil the lasagna noodles to al dente and set them aside, in a sauce pan over medium-high heat, add the olive oil and the onion. Cook until onion is soft.
• Add the sausage and ground beef or turkey. Cook, breaking up the meat, until mostly done.
• Add the garlic and stir.
• Add the Italian seasoning, basil, salt, and pepper. Stir.
• Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the tomato paste. Then add the tomato sauce and crushed tomatoes.
• Stir in the water and sugar. Stir and let the meat mixture come to a very low simmer. Then turn off the heat and remove pan from heat.
• To a mixing bowl, add the ricotta cheese, egg, Kosher salt, parmesan cheese. Mix together well. Set aside.
Assemble the Lasagna
• Add 1 ½ cups of the meat sauce to the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
• Layer 5 lasagna noodles, slightly overlapping, in the bottom of the baking dish. You may need to have 4 horizontal and 1 vertical. However they fit best.
• Spread ⅓ of the cheese mixture over the noodles.
• Sprinkle 1 cup of the shredded mozzarella over the cheese mixture.
• Spread 2 cups of the meat sauce over the mozzarella.
• Add another layer of noodles, cheese mixture, mozzarella, meat sauce.
• Add a final layer of noodles, cheese mixture, then the remaining meat sauce.
• Sprinkle the mozzarella and the ¾ cup parmesan on top.
Cook the Lasagna
• Cover with foil, sprayed with cooking spray.
• Bake for 45 minutes covered, then remove the foil and bake for another 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
How Much Does This Lasagna Recipe Make?
• This recipe makes a lot. You can feed 8-10 people a generous portion, so it should be enough for the whole family.
• If you want to make a smaller batch, cut the recipe in half and use a 8″x8″ pan. You may need to cut the cook time down a bit.
What Goes With Lasagna?
We like to serve lasagna with garlic bread, a salad, and a glass of red wine for the perfect Italian dinner.
Can Lasagna Be Frozen?
Yes! You can freeze lasagna either before or after cooking it.
To Freeze Unbaked Lasagna (before cooking):
- Assemble the lasagna in the baking dish (make sure it is freezer safe), then let it cool.
- Wrap the dish in 2 layers of plastic wrap, then wrap in foil.
- Freeze for up to 3 months.
To Freeze After Cooking:
- Let the lasagna cool completely.
- Choose a container. An airtight container, foil, or freezer baggies work well.
- Cut the lasagna into pieces that will fit into your container.
- If using baggies or foil, wrap in 2 layers of plastic wrap first.
To cook Frozen Lasagna:
Let it thaw first for best results. Then put in a 375° oven, covered with sprayed foil, and bake for 45 minutes, then uncovered for 15 minutes.
To Reheat Cooked Lasagna
• Place serving on a microwave safe plate. Poke a toothpick in the center.
• Drape a damp paper towel over the top (the toothpick will keep the paper towel off of the lasagna so it doesn’t stick to it).
• Microwave for 90 seconds, then in 45 second increments until heated through.
You Might Also Like
Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese
Spinach Cheese Strata
Old Fashioned Goulash
Texas Hominy Casserole
If you liked this yummy classic lasagna recipe, please leave a comment with a star rating below. I would like to know how you liked it!
Classic Homemade Lasagna
Equipment
- Deep 9"x13" Baking Dish
Ingredients
- 15 Lasagna Noodles
MEAT SAUCE
- 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
- 1 lg Onion, chopped
- 1 lb Ground Sausage (or Turkey Sausage)
- ¾ lb Lean Ground Beef (or Ground Turkey)
- 4 cloves Garlic, pressed or finely minced
- 2 teaspoons Italian Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Dried Basil
- ½ teaspoon Kosher Salt
- ½ teaspoon Black Pepper
- ½ teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes (optional)
- 1 6-oz can Tomato Paste
- 1 15-oz can Tomato Sauce
- 1 15-oz can Crushed Tomatoes
- ½ cup Water
- 1 Tablespoon Sugar
Cheese Mixture
- 16 oz Ricotta Cheese (or Cottage Cheese), divided
- 1 Egg
- ¼ teaspoon Kosher Salt
- ¼ cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
Additional Cheese for Layering
- 4 cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided
- ¾ cup Grated Parmesan Cheese, divided
Instructions
- Gather together everything you will need first, to make the process easier.
- Cook the Lasagna Noodles
- Cook the lasagna noodles in a pot of salted water until al dente (slightly undercooked). Rinse in cold water and set aside.
- Spray a deep 9"x13" baking dish with cooking spray.
- Heat oven to 375° F.
- Make the Meat Mixture
- Meanwhile, in a saucepan or large skillet over medium-high heat, add the oil and the onion. Cook until onion is soft.
- Add the sausage and ground beef or turkey. Cook, breaking up the meat, until mostly done. Drain if there is excess grease.
- Add the garlic and stir.
- Add the Italian seasoning, basil, salt, and pepper. Stir.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the tomato paste. Stir well. Then add the tomato sauce and crushed tomatoes. Stir and let mixture come to a very low simmer.
- Stir in the water and sugar. Stir well.
- Turn off the heat and remove pan from heat.
- Make the Cheese Mixture
- To a mixing bowl, add the ricotta cheese, egg, ¼ tsp Kosher salt, and ¼ cup parmesan cheese. Mix together well. Set aside.
- Assemble the Lasagna
- Add 1 ½ cups of the meat sauce to the bottom of the baking dish.
- Layer 5 lasagna noodles, slightly overlapping, in the bottom of the baking dish. You may need to have 4 horizontal and 1 vertical. However they fit best.
- Spread ⅓ of the cheese mixture over the noodles.
- Sprinkle 1 cup of the shredded mozzarella over the cheese mixture.
- Spread 2 cups of the meat sauce over the mozzarella.
- Add another layer each of noodles, ⅓ of cheese mixture, 1 cup mozzarella, and half of remaining meat sauce.
- Add a final layer each of noodles, remaining ⅓ of cheese mixture, then the remaining meat sauce.
- Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella over the top, along with the ¾ cup Parmesan cheese.
Cook the Lasagna
- Cover with foil that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.
- Bake for 45 minutes covered, then remove the foil and bake for another 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
- Let stand about 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Use hot Italian sausage for more spice.
- Use jarred marinara sauce in place of the tomato products and sugar. You will need about 2 or 3 24-ounce jars.
Nutrition
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Karli says
This was the first time I have ever made lasagna and it turned out so good! My kids really liked it too. I’m so full right now 😭. Hahaha!