Go Back

Homemade Lasagna

A cozy and nostalgic homemade lasagna layered with rich meat sauce, creamy ricotta mixture, and melty mozzarella cheese—just like Grandma used to make.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For The Meat Sauce
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 small onion chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 can crushed tomatoes 28 ounces
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
For The Ricotta Mixture
  • 1 container ricotta cheese 15 ounces
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
Pasta And Cheese Layers
  • 9 lasagna noodles cooked and drained
  • 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • Extra Parmesan to sprinkle on top

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
  2. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef with chopped onion and minced garlic until the beef is no longer pink.
  3. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, salt, basil, Italian seasoning, and black pepper. Simmer for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  4. In a medium bowl, mix together ricotta cheese, egg, grated Parmesan cheese, and chopped parsley until combined.
  5. Spread a thin layer of the meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.
  6. Place three lasagna noodles over the sauce.
  7. Spread one third of the ricotta mixture over the noodles, followed by a portion of the meat sauce and a sprinkle of mozzarella cheese.
  8. Repeat this layering process two more times using remaining noodles, ricotta mixture, meat sauce, and mozzarella cheese.
  9. Finish with a final layer of noodles, the remaining sauce, mozzarella cheese, and a sprinkle of extra Parmesan on top.
  10. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
  11. Remove the foil and bake an additional 20 minutes, until bubbly and golden brown.
  12. Let the lasagna rest for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

Slightly undercook the noodles as they will continue to cook in the oven. Be sure to drain excess fat from the beef to avoid greasiness. For best flavor and texture, use whole milk ricotta cheese. Allow the lasagna to rest before serving to maintain clean layers.