Classic Lasagna with Meat
A comforting and delicious classic lasagna that the whole family will love, featuring layers of meat sauce, noodles, and cheese.
Ingredients
Meat Sauce
- 1 lb ground beef High-quality ground beef recommended; can substitute with ground pork.
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 28 oz crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce Use whatever you have on hand.
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 2 tsp dried Italian herbs
Cheese and Noodles
- 12 oz lasagna noodles Regular or no-boil; pre-cook if using regular noodles.
- 15 oz ricotta cheese Can substitute with cottage cheese.
- 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese Grate your own for best results.
- ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
Preparation
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat.
- Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the skillet and cook until soft.
- Stir in the crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce, sugar, salt, pepper, and dried Italian herbs, and let simmer for 20 minutes.
- While the sauce simmers, cook the lasagna noodles according to package instructions until just pliable.
Layering and Baking
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a deep baking dish, start with a spoonful of meat sauce on the bottom.
- Layer with lasagna noodles followed by ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, and more meat sauce. Repeat layers, ending with noodles, and finish with a generous layer of mozzarella cheese on top.
- Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
Serving
- Let the lasagna rest for at least 15 minutes before slicing to ensure clean slices.
Notes
For make-ahead, assemble the lasagna and refrigerate overnight, then bake straight from the fridge (adding about 10 extra minutes). For freezing, cool, wrap tightly, and freeze before baking. Bake directly from frozen, covering with foil for the first part of baking.