Classic Meat & Cheese Lasagna
A cozy, hearty, and classic lasagna recipe layered with flavorful meat sauce, creamy ricotta mixture, and melty mozzarella cheese. Perfect for family dinners or make-ahead meals.
Equipment
- Large Skillet
- Medium Bowl
- 9x13-inch Baking Dish
Ingredients
Meat Sauce
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 796 mL crushed tomatoes 1 can
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 0.25 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp sugar optional, to cut acidity
Cheese Filling
- 475 g ricotta cheese 1 tub
- 1 egg
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese grated
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded, plus extra for topping
- 0.25 tsp ground nutmeg
Assembly
- 12 lasagna noodles cooked and drained
- fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until browned. Drain excess fat.
- Add chopped onion and garlic. Cook for 3-4 minutes until softened.
- Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, basil, salt, pepper, and sugar. Simmer uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- In a medium bowl, combine ricotta, egg, Parmesan, 1 cup mozzarella, and nutmeg. Mix well until smooth.
- Cook lasagna noodles according to package directions. Drain and lay flat on parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Spread a thin layer of meat sauce at the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- Add a layer of noodles, then a layer of ricotta mixture, followed by meat sauce. Repeat layers, finishing with meat sauce.
- Sprinkle extra mozzarella cheese on top. Bake for 45 minutes until bubbly and golden. Garnish with fresh parsley.
Notes
You can use oven-ready noodles to save time. Feel free to add diced bell peppers or mushrooms to the meat sauce for extra flavor.