
Classic Homemade Lasagna
A timeless, hearty lasagna layered with rich meat sauce, creamy béchamel, velvety ricotta, and melted mozzarella. This is the kind of recipe that fills the whole house with an irresistible aroma and feeds a crowd with ease. Reliable, comforting, and even better the next day.
8 servings · Prep 40 min · Cook 60 min · Total 100 min
Main Course
Ingredients
Open in recipe scaler →Meat Sauce
1 lb ground beef 80/20 blend recommended
1 yellow onion finely diced
4 cloves garlic minced
1 can crushed tomatoes
1 can tomato paste
1 can diced tomatoes drained
2 tsp dried Italian seasoning
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp sugar to balance acidity
1 tsp kosher salt
0.5 tsp black pepper freshly ground
0.25 tsp red pepper flakes
Ricotta Filling
32 oz whole milk ricotta cheese
2 eggs lightly beaten
0.5 cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated
2 tbsp fresh parsley finely chopped
0.5 tsp kosher salt
0.25 tsp black pepper
Main
12 piece lasagna noodles regular (not oven-ready), cooked al dente
4 cup low-moisture mozzarella cheese shredded, divided
0.5 cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated, for topping
Equipment
Oven
Stovetop
Dutch Oven
Saucepan
Baking Dish
Aluminum Foil
Baking Sheet
Parchment Paper
Mixing Bowl
Skillet
Pot
Wooden Spoon
Whisk
Spatula
Knife
Pan
Ladle
Baking Dish (9 x 13)
Mixing Bowl (4 Quarts)
Colander
Instructions
- Heat a large #[Skillet] or #[Dutch Oven] over ^[medium-high heat]. Add the @[Beef 80/20 Blend Recommended] and Italian sausage, breaking them up with a #[Wooden Spoon]. Cook until no pink remains, about ~[8–10 minutes]. Drain excess fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the pan.
- Add the diced @[Yellow Onion] to the browned meat and cook over ^[medium heat] until softened, about ~[4–5 minutes]. Add the minced @[Garlic] and cook for another ~[1 minute] until fragrant.
- Stir in the @[Tomato Paste] and cook for ~[2 minutes], stirring constantly — this deepens the tomato flavor. Then add the @[Crushed Tomatoes], drained @[Diced Tomatoes], @[Italian Seasoning], @[Dried Basil], @[Sugar To Balance Acidity], @[Kosher Salt], @[Black Pepper], and @[Red Pepper Flakes] (if using). Stir well to combine.
- Reduce heat to ^[low] and simmer the sauce uncovered for ~[20–25 minutes], stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened. Taste and adjust seasoning. Remove from heat and set aside.
- While the sauce simmers, cook the @[Lasagna Noodles Regular, Al Dente] in a large #[Pot] of well-salted boiling water according to package directions until just al dente (they'll finish cooking in the oven). Drain, lay flat on a lightly oiled #[Baking Sheet] or #[Parchment Paper] to prevent sticking, and set aside.
- In a large #[Mixing Bowl], combine the @[Milk Ricotta Cheese], beaten @[Eggs], grated @[Parmesan Cheese], chopped @[Parsley], @[Kosher Salt], and @[Black Pepper]. Stir until smooth and well blended. Set aside.
- Preheat your #[Oven] to ![375°F]. Spread about 1 cup of meat sauce evenly across the bottom of a 9x13-inch #[Baking Dish] — this prevents the noodles from sticking.
- Layer 3–4 @[Lasagna Noodles Regular, Al Dente] over the sauce, slightly overlapping if needed. Spread one-third of the ricotta mixture over the noodles, then top with about one-quarter of the shredded @[Low-Moisture Mozzarella Cheese Shredded, Divided], and one-third of the remaining meat sauce.
- Repeat the layering two more times: noodles → ricotta → mozzarella → meat sauce. For the final layer, place the last @[Lasagna Noodles Regular, Al Dente] on top, spread the remaining meat sauce over them, and finish with the remaining @[Low-Moisture Mozzarella Cheese Shredded, Divided] and all of the @[Parmesan Cheese].
- Cover the #[Baking Dish] tightly with #[Aluminum Foil] (tent it slightly so it doesn't touch the cheese). Bake covered at ![375°F] for ~[30 minutes].
- Remove the foil and bake for an additional ~[20–25 minutes], until the cheese is golden and bubbly and the edges are lightly browned.
- Remove the lasagna from the #[Oven] and let it rest uncovered for at least ~[15 minutes] before slicing.
- Garnish with fresh torn @[Basil] if desired, slice into squares, and serve warm.
