Simple, meaty pasta dishes are some of my favorite go-to’s when craving a cozy, comforting, and satisfying meal. After much testing and tweaking, I think I’ve finally found the only easy lasagna recipe you’ll ever need. It might take a bit of time to pull together, but the results are more than worth it with its crowd-pleasing, creamy, cheesy, meaty deliciousness. Plus, it preps and freezes well!
How to make lasagna
Make the Lasagna Meat Sauce: First, peel and finely dice the onion and carrot and mince the garlic. Then, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the onion and sauté for several minutes until translucent. Add the garlic and carrot and sauté for a further minute.
Ground meat: I recommend using a combination of ground beef and Italian sausage for the best homemade lasagna. I prefer lean 5% ground beef, though you may use slightly fattier meat if preferred. Lasagna sheets: Use regular lasagna noodles or no-cook noodles (sometimes labeled no-boil lasagna sheets or oven-ready lasagna). Cheeses: Use a combination of creamy whole milk ricotta cheese (or cottage cheese), mozzarella cheese, and parmesan cheese for an amazing depth of flavor and creaminess. Tomatoes: Use a combination of high-quality canned chopped/crushed tomatoes (like San Marzano) and tomato passata for flavor depth. Oil: Use any neutral cooking oil, like olive oil or avocado oil. Use a splash (about ¼ cup) of broth for an oil-free version. Water: Or use a low-sodium broth (vegetable or beef) for more flavor. Aromatics: White or yellow onion and garlic help to make a flavorful base. Carrot: for extra texture and subtle sweetness to balance the savory flavors. Fresh parsley: To add a hint of fresh herbiness. Seasonings: Italian seasoning, sea salt, black pepper, and nutmeg (optional). Worcestershire sauce: Optional, but this adds brightness and depth to the lasagna meat. Alternatively, a small amount of balsamic vinegar or lime/lemon juice would also work. Egg: To bind the cheese mixture and make a richer and creamier dish.
Then, stir in the ground beef, Italian sausage, parsley, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Sauté until the meat has browned, using a spoon to break it down while it cooks. Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato passata, and water (or broth), and mix well. Then cover and simmer over low for about 1 ½ hours, stirring occasionally. Prepare the Cheese Filling: When the meat sauce is almost ready, freshly shred the mozzarella and parmesan. Then combine them with the ricotta and egg in a bowl and mix well. Reserve some mozzarella to sprinkle on top of the lasagna. Boil Lasagna Noodles: To cook the lasagna sheets until al dente, cook them according to their package instructions minus 1 minute. Mine called for 8-10 minutes in a large pot of salted water. Then, drain and rinse the noodles with cold water to halt the cooking process and arrange them individually in a large tray to prevent sticking. You can skip this step if using no-boil lasagna as it doesn’t require pre-cooking. Layer the Lasagna: Preheat the oven to 375 Fº/190ºC and grease a baking dish (9×13-inch) with oil or melted butter. To layer the lasagna, start with a layer of the meat sauce, lasagna sheets, and cheese mixture. Then repeat until all the mixture is used – about 4 layers. Finally, sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese over the top. The exact amount of layers will depend on the size of the baking dish used. Feel free to cut the lasagna sheets to make them fit your dish. Bake It: Bake the lasagna covered in foil for 25 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for another 25 minutes or until the top is golden, bubbly, and browned. For a more golden top, use the broiler for a minute or two at the end. Rest the Serve: Finally, leave the lasagna to rest for about 20 minutes before serving. This not only allows more time for the flavors to meld, but it will set slightly, making it easier to slice. Optionally sprinkle it with some more parsley, then enjoy!
Make ahead method
This sausage and beef lasagna recipe is a super handy freezer meal and can be prepped in a couple of ways. When you’re ready to bake, thaw it in the fridge overnight (if frozen), then leave it to come to room temperature for 30 minutes before baking as written. If you try this easy classic lasagna recipe, let me know how it goes in the comments below. I’d appreciate a recipe card rating and would love to see your recipe recreations – tag me on Instagram @Alphafoodie!
