Description
This easy lasagna recipe features layers of tender lasagna noodles, rich meat sauce, creamy ricotta cheese, and gooey mozzarella cheese baked to perfection. Perfect for a comforting family meal, it combines classic Italian-American flavors with simple preparation steps to deliver a satisfying dish everyone will love.
Ingredients
Scale
Lasagna Components
- 9 lasagna noodles
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 jar (24 ounces) marinara sauce
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1½ cups ricotta cheese
- 1 egg
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Chopped parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Cook Noodles: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Boil the lasagna noodles according to package instructions until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Prepare Meat Sauce: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add diced onion and sauté until softened, about 3–4 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds more. Add ground beef, cooking until browned, breaking it up with a spoon. Drain excess fat if necessary.
- Simmer Sauce: Stir marinara sauce, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper into the beef mixture. Let it simmer gently for 5 minutes, then remove from heat.
- Mix Ricotta Filling: In a small bowl, combine ricotta cheese with the egg until smooth and well incorporated.
- Assemble Lasagna: Spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish. Layer 3 cooked noodles over the sauce. Spread one-third of the ricotta mixture, one-third of the meat sauce, and one-third of the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the noodles. Repeat the layering two more times, finishing with the mozzarella cheese on top. Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over everything.
- Bake Covered: Cover the dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes.
- Bake Uncovered: Remove the foil and bake an additional 15 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
- Rest and Serve: Allow the lasagna to rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Garnish with chopped parsley for a fresh touch if desired.
Notes
- You can use no-boil lasagna noodles to skip the boiling step and save time.
- Substitute ground beef with Italian sausage or ground turkey for a different flavor profile.
- Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 4 days and freeze beautifully for longer storage.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 750mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
