Easy Lasagna (Printable)
Layers of meat sauce, creamy ricotta filling and gooey mozzarella, baked until golden.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meat Sauce
01 - 1 pound ground beef
02 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 24 ounces marinara sauce
05 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
06 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
07 - 1 teaspoon dried basil
08 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
10 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
→ Cheese Mixture
11 - 15 ounces ricotta cheese
12 - 1 large egg
13 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
14 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley or 1 teaspoon dried parsley
15 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
16 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
→ Assembly
17 - 9 no-boil lasagna noodles or cooked regular noodles
18 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
# How to Make It:
01 - Set oven temperature to 375°F (190°C).
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook for 3 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook an additional minute.
03 - Add ground beef to skillet, breaking apart with a spoon, and cook until fully browned. Drain excess fat if necessary.
04 - Stir in marinara sauce, tomato paste, dried oregano, dried basil, salt, and black pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.
05 - Combine ricotta cheese, egg, grated Parmesan, parsley, salt, and black pepper in a mixing bowl. Mix until smooth and evenly blended.
06 - Spread 1 cup of meat sauce evenly in the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish.
07 - Arrange 3 lasagna noodles over the sauce. Spread one-third of the ricotta mixture over noodles, top with 1 cup of meat sauce, and sprinkle with one-third of the mozzarella cheese.
08 - Repeat layering process twice: noodles, ricotta mixture, meat sauce, mozzarella. Finish with remaining mozzarella cheese on top layer.
09 - Cover baking dish with lightly greased aluminum foil. Bake covered for 25 minutes.
10 - Remove foil and bake for an additional 15 to 20 minutes until cheese is golden and bubbling.
11 - Allow dish to rest for 10 to 15 minutes prior to slicing and serving to ensure clean portions.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The no-boil noodles save precious time, but nobody ever suspects a shortcut.
- Leftovers taste even better the next day—lasagna might be the only dish in my fridge that disappears faster on day two.
02 -
- I once skimmed on the rest time and the layers slid into a cheesy puddle—patience really does pay off here.
- Letting the sauce simmer longer than expected made all the difference in depth and richness; don’t rush it.
03 -
- Grease the foil lightly or the cheese will stick and come off with the cover—ask me how I know.
- A pinch of extra Parmesan on top gets you that irresistible golden crust every time.