Here’s a classic, hearty Lasagna recipe — layers of pasta, rich meat sauce, and gooey cheese 🍝🧀
Classic Lasagna
Serves: 6–8
Time: About 1 hour 15 minutes
Ingredients
Meat Sauce:
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2–3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (28 oz / 800 g) crushed tomatoes
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- Salt & pepper, to taste
Cheese Layer:
- 15 oz (425 g) ricotta cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp dried parsley (optional)
Other:
- 9–12 lasagna noodles (regular or no-boil)
- Extra shredded mozzarella and Parmesan for topping
Instructions
1️⃣ Prepare the Meat Sauce
- In a skillet over medium heat, sauté onion until soft.
- Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.
- Add ground beef and cook until browned; drain excess fat.
- Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper.
- Simmer 15–20 minutes to thicken slightly.
2️⃣ Prepare the Cheese Mixture
- In a bowl, combine ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella, Parmesan, egg, and parsley. Mix well.
3️⃣ Assemble the Lasagna
- Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F).
- Spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Layer 3–4 noodles on top.
- Spread 1/3 of the cheese mixture over noodles.
- Top with 1/3 of the meat sauce.
- Repeat layers 2 more times, ending with meat sauce.
- Sprinkle extra mozzarella and Parmesan on top.
4️⃣ Bake
- Cover with foil (to prevent sticking, tent foil slightly).
- Bake 25 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake another 15–20 minutes until cheese is golden and bubbly.
5️⃣ Rest & Serve
- Let rest 10 minutes before slicing to hold layers together.
Tips & Variations
- Add sautéed spinach or mushrooms to the cheese layer for extra veggies.
- Use a mix of ground beef and Italian sausage for a richer flavor.
- For a quicker version, use no-boil noodles and pre-made pasta sauce.
If you want, I can also give a creamy white chicken lasagna version that’s rich, cheesy, and slightly lighter than classic beef lasagna.
