Best Easy Lasagna Recipe
from kristineskitchenblog.comThis is the best lasagna I've ever made! It's easy to make with simple ingredients and comes out of the oven hot and bubbly, with melty cheese, golden edges and a flavorful meat sauce. Perfect for feeding a crowd and it makes amazing leftovers!
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 386kcal
Ingredients
- 9 lasagna noodles
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¾ cup chopped yellow onion
- 1 pound ground beef*
- salt and pepper
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 48 ounces marinara sauce about 6 cups of sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1 egg
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- 16 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese about 4 cups
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375° F.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the lasagna noodles and cook according to package directions for the minimum cook time. Then, drain the noodles and rinse them with cold water. You can lay them out on parchment paper to keep them from sticking together.9 lasagna noodles
- Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until softened, 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the ground beef and cook, crumbling, until the beef is browned. Drain off excess grease. Season with salt and pepper. Add the minced garlic and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds.1 tablespoon olive oil, ¾ cup chopped yellow onion, 1 pound ground beef*, salt and pepper, 3 cloves garlic, minced
- To the skillet with the ground beef, add the marinara sauce, Italian seasoning and parsley. Stir to combine. Bring to a simmer and then reduce the temperature to low. Cook at a low simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.48 ounces marinara sauce, 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning, ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
- While the sauce simmers, crack the egg into a medium bowl and beat lightly with a fork. Add the ricotta cheese and stir to combine. This is also a good time to shred the mozzarella cheese.1 egg, 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- To assemble the lasagna, put about 1 cup of the meat sauce into a 9x13-inch baking dish. Lay 3 noodles in an even layer over the sauce. Spread ⅓ of the remaining meat sauce over the noodles. Place small spoonfuls of the ricotta and egg mixture on top of the sauce, using ½ of the ricotta. Sprinkle ⅓ of the mozzarella and ⅓ of the Parmesan over the top.16 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese, ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Repeat the same layer one more time: 3 noodles, ½ of the remaining sauce, the rest of the ricotta, ½ of the remaining mozzarella and ½ of the remaining Parmesan. For the top layer of the lasagna, use the remaining 3 noodles, the rest of the sauce, and finally the rest of the mozzarella and Parmesan.
- Cover the lasagna with a piece of foil that has been sprayed with cooking spray on the underside (to prevent the cheese from sticking to the foil).
- Bake the lasagna, covered with foil, for 35 minutes. Then uncover and continue baking for 10 to 15 minutes more, or until the lasagna is hot and bubbling on the sides and the cheese is lightly browned on top. Let the lasagna rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Video
Notes
- You can add 1/2 pound of Italian sausage in addition to the ground beef, if desired. Remove the sausage from the casings and brown it with the ground beef, crumbling it as it cooks.
- Leftover lasagna can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days after baking. You can also freeze lasagna after baking, in an airtight container, for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and then reheat in the microwave or in a covered dish in the oven until it is steaming hot.
- To Make Ahead: You can assemble the lasagna ahead of time and refrigerate it, covered, for up to 24 hours before baking. If you are baking a lasagna that is fully chilled from being in the refrigerator, add about 15 minutes to the covered baking time.
- Freezer Instructions: You can assemble the lasagna and then freeze it before baking. rap the lasagna tightly before freezing, and freeze for up to 3 months. When you are ready to cook the lasagna, let it thaw in the refrigerator for 24 hours. Then bake as directed in the recipe, adding about 15 minutes to the covered baking time since a lasagna that is cold from the refrigerator will take longer to heat through.
Nutrition
Serving: 1/12 recipe | Calories: 386kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 90mg | Sodium: 957mg | Potassium: 644mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1065IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 344mg | Iron: 3mg
