This warm, bubbly lasagna is layered with rich meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and loads of gooey melted cheese. It’s the ultimate comfort food — simple, hearty, and sure to make everyone at the table happy!
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 8
Ingredients
For the Sauce:
- 1 pound ground beef (or Italian sausage)
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 jar (24 ounces) marinara sauce or homemade tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the Cheese Mixture:
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- 1 egg
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (divided)
For Assembly:
- 9 lasagna noodles (cooked and drained)
- 1 cup extra shredded mozzarella (for topping)
- Fresh parsley or basil for garnish
Directions
- Preheat oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cook the sauce: In a large skillet, brown the ground beef with chopped onion over medium heat. Drain excess grease, add garlic, and cook for another minute. Stir in marinara sauce, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Let it simmer for about 10 minutes.
- Mix the cheeses: In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg, salt, Parmesan, and 1 cup of mozzarella. Mix until creamy and smooth.
- Assemble the lasagna:
- Spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom of the baking dish.
- Add a layer of noodles.
- Spread some of the ricotta mixture over the noodles.
- Add another layer of sauce.
- Repeat layers (noodles, ricotta, sauce) until all ingredients are used.
- Finish with a generous layer of sauce and the remaining mozzarella on top.
- Bake: Cover loosely with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake another 15–20 minutes, or until the cheese on top is golden and bubbling.
- Rest and serve: Let the lasagna rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Garnish with parsley or basil, and enjoy!
Optional Tips/Variations
- Add a layer of sautéed spinach or zucchini for extra veggies.
- For an extra cheesy version, mix in provolone or fontina with the mozzarella.
- Substitute cottage cheese for ricotta if you prefer a lighter texture.
Love cheesy comfort food? Try my Easy One-Pot Pasta for a quick dinner or my Easy Homemade Meatloaf for a hearty family meal — both made for you!