The Best Simple Lasagna You Can Make Any Night of the Week
A simple and delicious lasagna recipe layered with meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and gooey cheese—perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
For the Meat Sauce:
- 1 lb (450g) ground beef or Italian sausage
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 jar (24 oz) pasta sauce or marinara
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the Cheese Mixture:
- 1 ½ cups ricotta cheese
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp dried parsley (optional)
For the Layers:
- 9 lasagna noodles (regular or oven-ready)
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook the Meat Sauce:Brown the ground beef and onions in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the garlic for one minute. Add Italian seasoning and pasta sauce and stir. Simmer for ten minutes.
- Prepare the Cheese Mixture:Combine the parmesan, parsley, ricotta, egg, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
- Assemble the Lasagna:In a 9x13 inch baking dish:Spread a thin layer of meat sauce.Add 3 lasagna noodles.Spread 1/3 of the ricotta mixture.Add a layer of meat sauce, then sprinkle with mozzarella.Repeat layers, ending with sauce and mozzarella on top.
- Bake:Bake, covered with foil, for twenty-five minutes. After taking off the foil, bake for a further 20 minutes, or until brown and bubbling.
- Rest and Serve:Before slicing, let the lasagna rest for ten minutes. If desired, garnish with chopped basil or parsley.
Notes
- Ricotta can be replaced with cottage cheese.
- To cut down on cooking time, use noodles that are ready to eat.
- Replace the beef with sautéed vegetables to make it vegetarian.