Here’s a classic, hearty Lasagna recipe — layers of tender pasta, rich meat sauce, creamy cheese, and gooey melted cheese on top.
🍝 Classic Lasagna
🛒 Ingredients (Serves 6–8)
Meat Sauce
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef (or a mix of beef & pork)
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Cheese Filling
- 15 oz ricotta cheese
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp dried parsley or 1 tbsp fresh parsley
Other Ingredients
- 9–12 lasagna noodles (uncooked or no-boil)
- 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- Optional: fresh basil for garnish
👩🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Make the Meat Sauce
- In a large skillet, cook ground beef and onion over medium heat until browned. Drain excess fat.
- Add garlic, cook 1 minute until fragrant.
- Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.
- Simmer 15–20 minutes until slightly thickened.
2️⃣ Prepare the Cheese Filling
- In a bowl, combine ricotta, Parmesan, egg, parsley, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Mix until smooth.
3️⃣ Assemble the Lasagna
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Layer noodles over sauce (about 3 noodles).
- Spread 1/3 of the cheese mixture over noodles.
- Add 1/3 of meat sauce, then sprinkle 1 cup mozzarella.
- Repeat 2 more times (noodles → cheese → sauce → mozzarella).
4️⃣ Bake
- Cover with foil (to prevent sticking, spray foil with cooking spray).
- Bake 25 minutes, then remove foil and bake another 15–20 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden.
- Let rest 10–15 minutes before slicing.
🔥 Tips & Variations
- Vegetarian: Replace meat with sautéed mushrooms, zucchini, and spinach.
- Extra cheesy: Add mozzarella in between each layer and sprinkle on top.
- Herbs: Fresh basil or oregano gives a bright flavor.
- Make ahead: Assemble and refrigerate overnight; bake next day.
- Noodles: No-boil noodles save time; just make sure sauce is slightly more liquidy.
I can also provide a restaurant-style lasagna recipe with ultra-rich meat sauce, creamy ricotta layers, and perfectly gooey mozzarella that rivals Italian restaurants.
Do you want me to give that version?
