Welcome to what is sure to become your new favorite lasagna recipe! This dish is the epitome of comfort food, with rich layers of savory meat sauce, creamy cheese filling, and tender pasta, all baked to golden, bubbly perfection. It's the perfect meal for a family dinner or a cozy night in.
- Prep time: 30 minutes
- Cook time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Servings: 8-10
Shop Key Ingredients
- Oven-Ready (No-Boil) Lasagna Noodles
- Canned Crushed Tomatoes
- Dried Oregano
- Bay Leaf
Full Recipe Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 large yellow onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 teaspoons white sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons dried basil leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for topping
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 (16 ounce) package oven-ready lasagna noodles
- 2 lbs shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Cook the Meat Sauce: In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef and chopped onion until the beef is browned. Drain off any excess fat. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Simmer the Sauce: Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and water. Add the sugar, basil, oregano, salt, pepper, and the bay leaf. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it simmer for at least 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Prepare the Cheese Filling: While the sauce is simmering, mix the ricotta cheese, egg, 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese, and chopped parsley together in a medium-sized bowl. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Preheat Oven and Assemble - First Layer: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Remove the bay leaf from the meat sauce. Spread a thin layer (about 1 cup) of the meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.
- Assemble the Layers: Arrange a single layer of lasagna noodles over the sauce. Spread half of the ricotta cheese mixture over the noodles. Top with a third of the shredded mozzarella. Spoon about 1 ½ to 2 cups of meat sauce over the mozzarella. Repeat the layers once more: noodles, the remaining ricotta mixture, another third of the mozzarella, and more meat sauce.
- Finish Assembling and Bake: Place the final layer of noodles on top. Cover with the remaining meat sauce. Sprinkle the rest of the mozzarella and a little extra Parmesan cheese on top. Cover the dish with foil (be sure to tent it slightly or spray with cooking spray so the cheese doesn't stick). Bake for 25 minutes.
- Brown the Top and Rest: Remove the foil and bake for an additional 25-30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the sauce is bubbly. Let the lasagna cool and rest for at least 15 minutes before slicing and serving. This is crucial for the layers to set!
