Description
If you love layers of rich, meaty sauce, creamy cheese, and perfectly baked pasta, this Classic Beef Lasagna is about to become your new favorite dish. It’s hearty, cheesy, and oh-so-satisfying, with a slow-simmered meat sauce that brings out deep, bold flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Meat Sauce:
- 1 lb ground beef (or half beef, half Italian sausage)
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
- 1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
- 1 tsp sugar (balances acidity)
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
- Salt & pepper to taste
For the Cheese Layer:
- 1 (15 oz) container ricotta cheese
- 1 egg
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp dried parsley (or fresh, chopped)
For the Lasagna Layers:
- 12 lasagna noodles (regular or no-boil)
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan (for topping)
Instructions
Make the Meat Sauce:
- In a large skillet, cook ground beef over medium heat until browned.
- Add onion and cook for 3-4 minutes, then stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Pour in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, and tomato paste, then add sugar, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.
- Simmer on low heat for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Prepare the Cheese Mixture:
- In a bowl, mix ricotta cheese, egg, Parmesan, and parsley until smooth.
3. Cook the Lasagna Noodles:
- Boil lasagna noodles according to package instructions. Drain and lay flat on a baking sheet to prevent sticking.
4. Assemble the Lasagna:
- Spread 1 cup of meat sauce on the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish.
- Layer 4 noodles over the sauce.
- Spread ⅓ of the ricotta mixture over the noodles.
- Sprinkle ½ cup mozzarella cheese over the ricotta.
- Repeat layers (sauce → noodles → ricotta → mozzarella) 2 more times.
- Top with the final layer of noodles, the remaining sauce, and mozzarella cheese.
- Sprinkle extra Parmesan on top for a golden crust.
5. Bake & Serve:
- Cover with foil and bake at 375°F for 25 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes, until cheese is golden and bubbly.
- Let sit for 10 minutes before slicing (this helps it hold its shape).
- Serve hot and enjoy with garlic bread and a fresh salad!