The Best Classic Lasagna Recipe

This homemade lasagna is the ultimate comfort food, packed with layers of rich meat sauce, creamy ricotta, gooey mozzarella, and perfectly cooked pasta. Whether you’re making it for a family dinner, a special occasion, or meal prepping for the week, this classic Italian dish will always impress!

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

✔ Rich & Flavorful – Slow-simmered meat sauce for deep, delicious flavor
✔ Perfectly Cheesy – A blend of ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan
✔ Make-Ahead Friendly – Assemble in advance and bake when ready
✔ Crowd-Pleasing Comfort Food – Everyone loves a good lasagna!

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Ingredients (Serves 8-10)

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
• ½ cup water
• 2 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp dried basil
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp sugar (optional, balances acidity)
• ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)

For the Cheese Layer:

• 15 oz ricotta cheese
• 1 large egg
• ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley (or 1 tsp dried parsley)
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

For the Lasagna Assembly:

• 12 lasagna noodles (regular or oven-ready)
• 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• Extra Parmesan, for topping

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How to Make the Best Lasagna

Step 1: Prepare the Meat Sauce

1. In a large pan, cook ground beef over medium heat until browned. Drain excess fat.
2. Add chopped onion and garlic, sautéing for 2-3 minutes until fragrant.
3. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, water, and seasonings.
4. Simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally to develop deep flavor.

Step 2: Prepare the Cheese Mixture

5. In a bowl, mix ricotta cheese, egg, parsley, salt, and Parmesan until smooth.

Step 3: Cook the Lasagna Noodles (Skip if using oven-ready noodles)

6. Cook lasagna noodles in salted boiling water according to package instructions. Drain and lay them flat on parchment paper to prevent sticking.

Step 4: Assemble the Lasagna

7. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
8. Spread 1 cup of meat sauce at the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.
9. Layer 3-4 lasagna noodles over the sauce.
10. Spread ⅓ of the ricotta mixture evenly over the noodles.
11. Sprinkle 1 cup of mozzarella on top.
12. Repeat the layers twice more (sauce, noodles, ricotta, mozzarella).
13. Finish with a final layer of noodles, sauce, mozzarella, and extra Parmesan.

Step 5: Bake & Serve

14. Cover with foil (tent it slightly so it doesn’t stick to the cheese).
15. Bake for 25 minutes, then remove foil and bake another 15 minutes until bubbly and golden.
16. Let it rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing. This helps the layers set!
17. Serve warm with garlic bread and a fresh salad!

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Make-Ahead & Freezing Tips

???? Make Ahead: Assemble the lasagna, cover, and refrigerate up to 24 hours before baking.
❄️ Freeze: Wrap tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. Bake from frozen at 375°F (190°C) for 60-75 minutes.
???? Reheat: Cover with foil and warm in a 350°F oven for 20 minutes.

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Serving Ideas & Variations

???? Vegetarian Lasagna: Swap the meat for sautéed mushrooms, zucchini, and spinach.
???? Extra Cheesy: Add provolone or burrata for even more gooey deliciousness.
???? Spicy Kick: Add more red pepper flakes for heat.
???? Gluten-Free Option: Use gluten-free lasagna noodles.

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Nutrition (Per Serving – Approximate)

• Calories: 480
• Carbs: 50g
• Protein: 30g
• Fat: 18g
• Fiber: 5g