This Lasagna Recipe is a family classic. It’s Easy to make with layers of noodles, sauce and cheese for a quick weeknight meal on those busy nights.
Lasagna is one of those dishes that you can’t go wrong with. We love lasagna because it’s so easy to make and customize for everyone’s tastes, but also great the next day for leftovers.
Whether you’re cooking it for a family dinner or bringing it to a potluck, you know this recipe will be a crowd pleaser.
What is Lasagna?
Lasagna is a baked pasta dish, usually consisting of flat pasta sheets alternated with layers of cheese, tomato sauce and other ingredients such as meat and vegetables. It’s a classic comfort food that has been around for centuries, but you don’t have to be Italian to make it. It’s easy as pie (or lasagna)!
What are the Ingredients in Lasagna?
Lasagna is made with pasta sheets, ricotta cheese and/or cottage cheese, ground beef or sausage (or both), marinara or spaghetti sauce and a layer of mozzarella cheese. You can also add vegetables like eggplant or spinach if you want to mix things up a bit!
How Long Does it Take to Cook Lasagna?
It depends on what kind of lasagna you’re making and how many people will be eating it! If you’re making traditional lasagna it usually takes about 45 minutes to an hour at 350 degrees F. If you’re adding other ingredients like ground beef or sausage then your cooking time will increase slightly since those items take longer than just plain old noodles!
Recipe Tips & Substitutions
- Can use ground turkey or sausage in place of ground beef.
- Make sure to use plenty of spaghetti sauce to keep your noodles from drying out.
- Make sure to cook the noodle al dente to avoid over cooked, crunchy noodles.
- Get creative by adding your favorite toppings like sliced pepperoni or olives!
Time Saving Tips
If you want to save on time and make this even easier, try these tips!
- Use no-cook lasagna noodles. They work just as well as regular lasagna noodles and reduce a significant amount of time in the kitchen.
- Use jarred spaghetti sauce. Not all sauces are created equal! Avoid using anything that has too much acidity, salt or sugar in it, as these will make the lasagna less flavorful. Also avoid sauces with too much fat and oil, because these can make your dish heavy and greasy.
- Brown the ground beef the night before. Brown meat in a skillet, allow to cool and place in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to use the next day. Heat back up in skillet with spaghetti sauce and continue with directions.
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef, browned and drained
1 (32 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
1 (8 ounce) container small curd cottage cheese
1 (8 ounce) container ricotta cheese
1 cup Parmesan cheese
4 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
9 lasagna noodles, cooked al dente and drained
2 eggs
1 tablespoon Oregano
1/2 tablespoon Garlic salt
1/2 tablespoon Pepper
Parsley to garnish (optional)
How to Make Lasagna
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large pot, cook noodles per al dente package directions and drain. Rinse under cold water until noodles are cooled down and set aside.
In a skillet add ground beef, cook until browned and drain. Mix the jar of spaghetti sauce in with the ground beef and set aside.
In a bowl, add cottage cheese, eggs, ricotta and parmesan cheese. Mix together well.
Spray the bottom of a 9X13 pan with cooking spray.
How To Layer Lasagna
- meat sauce – noodles – ricotta/cottage cheese mixture – mozzarella cheese
- meat sauce – noodles – ricotta/cottage cheese mixture – mozzarella cheese
- noodles – meat sauce – mozzarella cheese
- Spread a thin layer of meat sauce, then add a single layer of 3 lasagna noodles on top, then a layer of cottage cheese mixture and a generous layer of mozzarella cheese.
- Repeat steps till you get to the top of the pan making the last layer cooked noodles topped with sauce and a generous layer of mozzarella cheese.
- Bake uncovered at 350 degrees F on middle for about an hour and until brown and bubbly.
- Allow to sit for about 15 minutes before cutting. Garnish with parsley if desired.
- Serve with a salad, garlic bread or your choice of any side dish.
Easy Lasagna
This Lasagna Recipe is a family classic. It's Easy to make with layers of noodles, sauce and cheese for a quick weeknight meal on those busy nights.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef, browned and drained
- 1 (32 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
- 1 (8 ounce) container small curd cottage cheese
- 1 (8 ounce) container ricotta cheese
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese
- 4 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 9 lasagna noodles, cooked and drained
- 2 eggs
- 1 tablespoon Oregano
- 1/2 tablespoon Garlic salt
- 1/2 tablespoon Pepper
- Parsley to garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a large pot, cook noodles per al dente package directions and drain. Rinse under cold water until noodles are cooled down and set aside.
- In a skillet add ground beef, cook until browned and drain. Mix the jar of spaghetti sauce in with the ground beef and set aside.
- In a bowl, add cottage cheese, eggs, ricotta and parmesan cheese. Mix together well.
- Spray the bottom of a 9X13 pan with cooking spray.
- Spread a thin layer of meat sauce, then add a single layer of 3 lasagna noodles on top, then a layer of cottage cheese mixture and a generous layer of mozzarella cheese.
- Repeat steps till you get to the top of the pan making the last layer cooked noodles topped with sauce and a generous layer of mozzarella cheese.
- Bake uncovered at 350 degrees F on middle rack for about an hour and until brown and bubbly.
- Allow to sit for about 15 minutes before cutting. Garnish with parsley if desired.
- Serve with a salad, garlic bread or your choice of any side dish.
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