Description
A cozy and comforting lasagna packed with rich meat sauce, creamy cheese layers, and bubbly mozzarella.
Ingredients
Scale
- Lasagna noodles (regular or oven ready)
- Ground beef (or a beef and pork mix)
- 1 Onion, chopped
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
- 2 cups Marinara sauce
- 2 tablespoons Tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1/2 teaspoon Black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Sugar (optional)
- 15 oz Ricotta cheese
- 1 Egg
- 3 cups Mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- Fresh parsley or basil, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Make the rich meat sauce: In a big skillet or pot, cook your ground beef with chopped onion. Once it is browned, add garlic and cook for about 30 seconds. Drain excess grease, leaving some for flavor. Stir in marinara and tomato paste. Season with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Let it simmer for at least 15 to 20 minutes.
- Mix the creamy layer: In a bowl, stir ricotta with an egg, a handful of Parmesan, a pinch of salt, and chopped parsley. Taste to ensure seasoning.
- Prep the noodles: Boil regular noodles until just tender, then rinse with cool water. If using oven-ready noodles, follow package instructions.
- Layer it up: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Spread a thin layer of meat sauce in a 9×13 baking dish, then layer meat sauce, noodles, ricotta mixture, and mozzarella, repeating until finished. Top with sauce and a generous layer of mozzarella and Parmesan.
- Bake and rest: Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes, then uncover and bake for an additional 15 to 20 minutes until bubbly and golden. Let it rest for at least 15 minutes before slicing.
Notes
For a creamier ricotta layer, mix additional mozzarella into the ricotta. Allowing lasagna to rest is crucial for clean slices.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 80mg