How To Make Homemade Lasagna

Homemade Lasagna— classic comfort food! Here’s a solid, simple way to make a traditional meat and cheese lasagna that hits all the cozy, cheesy, saucy notes. 🍝

🍽️ Classic Lasagna Recipe

🧺 Ingredients:

For the meat sauce:

  • 1 lb ground beef (or half beef, half Italian sausage)
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste (optional, for richness)
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • Pinch of sugar (optional, balances acidity)

For the cheese filling:

  • 15 oz ricotta cheese (or cottage cheese)
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
  • 1 tsp dried parsley or Italian seasoning
  • Salt & pepper

Other:

  • 9 lasagna noodles (or more if you’re doing extra layers)
  • 2–3 cups shredded mozzarella
  • Olive oil
  • Fresh basil or parsley (optional garnish)

🔥 Instructions:

1. Cook the noodles

  • Boil lasagna noodles in salted water until al dente. Drain and lay flat on parchment or drizzle with a bit of oil to prevent sticking.
    (Or use oven-ready noodles and skip this step.)

2. Make the meat sauce

  • Sauté onion in olive oil until soft (about 5 min).
  • Add garlic and cook for 1 min more.
  • Add ground meat, season with salt & pepper, and cook until browned.
  • Stir in tomatoes, paste, herbs, and a pinch of sugar. Simmer 15–20 min.

3. Mix the cheese filling

  • In a bowl, mix ricotta, egg, Parmesan, herbs, and a little salt & pepper.

4. Assemble the lasagna

In a 9×13 baking dish:

  1. Spread a thin layer of sauce on the bottom.
  2. Add a layer of noodles (about 3).
  3. Spread 1/3 of the ricotta mixture.
  4. Sprinkle mozzarella.
  5. Add a generous layer of sauce.
  6. Repeat layers 2 more times.
  7. Top with final noodles, sauce, and mozzarella.

5. Bake it!

  • Cover with foil (spray it so it doesn’t stick to cheese).
  • Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 25 minutes.
  • Remove foil and bake another 15–20 minutes until bubbly and golden.
  • Let rest for 10–15 min before cutting (helps it set up).

😋 Serve with:

  • Garlic bread
  • A fresh salad
  • A glass of red wine or sparkling water with lemon