Lasagna

Published March 3, 2013. Updated January 1, 2019

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Lasagna! Is there anything much better? Pasta noodles piled high and layered full of three kinds of cheese to go along with the perfect blend of meaty and zesty, tomato pasta sauce all loaded with herbs. The ultimate comfort food!

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My Favorite Homemade Lasagna Recipe

Lasagna is Italian comfort food at it’s best. To press your fork through all those layers of pasta as the sauce and cheese glides down the slides then it’s all lifted so longingly into your mouth. Bite, after bite, after bite. Each bite savored and appreciated.

One word, YUM! This lasagna does take a bit of time and effort, but it is most definitely worth it. With flavors this good you’ll have have a hard time stopping at one serving of this tempting lasagna.

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I considered making this recipe to be with fresh herbs as I had fresh basil, oregano and parsley on hand and wanted to use it up, but I figured most of you probably don’t keep fresh herbs on hand so I went the simpler version by using dried herbs.

If you’d like to, you very well could replace some of the dried herbs with fresh (I’d say triple the amounts if using fresh in place of dried). Also, feel free to add more cheese if you’d like, because really can you have too much cheese when it comes to lasagna =)?

For a quick side to serve along this lasagna I’d recommend steamed broccoli with a touch of browned butter and Mizithra cheese or purchase a salad blend and top it with fresh tomato slices and a creamy pesto salad dressing. Enjoy!

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16 Quick & Easy 30 Minute Recipes! (plus weekly recipe updates)

5 from 8 votes

Lasagna

Perfect homemade lasagna layered with tender pasta, beefy flavorful marinara sauce and plenty of cheeses! Comfort food at it's best!
Servings: 15
Prep35 minutes
Cook1 hour 50 minutes
Ready in: 2 hours 25 minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Heat 1 Tbsp olive oil in a large enameled cast iron pot over medium-high heat. Once oil is hot, crumble beef and sausage into pot, season lightly with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally until browned and cooked through. 
  • Remove from heat and drain into a large bowl lined with plenty of paper towels. Pour drained beef and sausage into a food processor and pulse mixture about 10 - 15 seconds until ground into small pieces, set aside.
  • Return pot to medium-high heat, add in remaining 1 Tbsp olive oil. Once oil is hot, add onion and saute until golden, about 2 - 3 minutes, adding garlic during the last 30 seconds of sauteing. 
  • Add tomato puree, tomato paste, sugar, basil, crushed fennel seeds, oregano, thyme, marjoram, then season with 1 tsp salt and more to taste and 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper. Add cooked meat. 
  • Bring mixture to a simmer, then reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered 45 minutes - 1 hour, stirring occasionally, until sauce has reduced and thickened slightly.
  • Cook pasta to al dente according to directions listed on package (now is a good time to shred cheese). Drain pasta (do not rinse) and once cool enough to handle, align noodles in a single layer on sheets of wax paper (you can also hang some of them over the colander used to strain pasta).
  •  In a mixing bowl using a fork, blend together Ricotta cheese, egg and parsley, set aside. In a mixing bowl or large ziploc bag, toss together mozzarella, Parmesan and Romano cheese, set aside.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. To assemble lasagna, evenly spread 1 cup ground beef pasta sauce into the bottom of a 13 x 9-inch baking dish. Align 4 - 5* lasagna noodles over sauce. Spread 1/3 of the ricotta mixture over lasagna noodle layer (it will be a thin layer) then sprinkle 1/4 of the mozzarela cheese mixture into an even layer. 
  • Dollop and spread 1 1/2 cups pasta sauce evenly over cheese, then repeat this layering process 2 more times. Finish top with 1 more layer of 4 - 5 lasagna noodles, then spread 1/2 cup pasta sauce over top of noodles and sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese mixture. Tent baking dish with foil (don't allow foil to touch cheese on top. 
  • Also if you may want to rest it on a baking sheet if it's looking very full in the baking dish to prevent it from spilling over) and bake in preheated oven 35 minutes, then remove foil and bake uncovered for 15 minutes. Serve warm garnished with additional Romano cheese and fresh parsley or basil if desired.

Notes

*Count the lasagna noodles before assembling lasagna. I had 20 noodles so each layer was able to have 5 noodles, but if you only have 16 - 18 you will need to reduce some (or all) of the layers to 4 noodles.
Nutrition Facts
Lasagna
Amount Per Serving
Calories 481 Calories from Fat 216
% Daily Value*
Fat 24g37%
Saturated Fat 11g69%
Cholesterol 87mg29%
Sodium 682mg30%
Potassium 896mg26%
Carbohydrates 39g13%
Fiber 4g17%
Sugar 9g10%
Protein 29g58%
Vitamin A 1106IU22%
Vitamin C 15mg18%
Calcium 361mg36%
Iron 4mg22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.

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50 Comments

  • Mari Bresler

    I made this recipe exactly how it was written. Everyone loves it. It is so yummy. The best is everything comes together so well. The 1st time (ever) that I made this, was back in 2020? I think. I just finished making another batch. I wouldn’t change the ingredients, AT ALL. Well, a bit.
    At the end I decided to use my emersion blender because I guess I skip the food processor. THANKS for this recipe.
    If I could I rate this recipe 10 Stars.
    It is definately a keeper

  • Tina

    I’d like to make this recipe for Christmas Eve. Which if your side recipes woujd be a good accompaniment? I’m looking for something other than the usual bread and salad. Also, would cheese cake work as a dessert or is that too heavy with lasagna. Thx you kindly for any suggestions you can offer.

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      I love it with roasted broccoli, asparagus, green beans or brussels sprouts. You can flavor those with things like browned butter, parmesan, lemon or balsamic. I know you said not salad but sometimes just a new kind of salad is nice like this lemon parm kale salad. And maybe a cheesecake mousse that’s fluffier and not as heavy may be nice. I always love Tiramisu too which is a little lighter. Berries, balsamic glaze and sweetened whipped cream is tasty too.

  • Mari Bresler

    This is a BY FAR a great recipe. I’ve been using the recipe for 4 years, and I follow the recipe and make 0 changes. It’s delicious!
    Mari

  • Erin

    I love your recipes but have a question, our local stores don’t carry puree. Is there a substitute?

  • Deb

    I made the sauce the night before I was going to make the lasagna. Got busy & ended up just using it for spaghetti for a quick dinner instead of making the lasagna. It was THE BEST spaghetti sauce I have ever made. I can’t wait to make it again for lasagna. :) Thanks so much for a great recipe!