Description
A comforting homemade lasagna recipe featuring layers of rich tomato sauce, gooey cheese, and savory fillings, including creamy ricotta cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
- 9–12 lasagna noodles (regular or no-boil)
- 2 cups ricotta cheese
- 1 egg
- 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 cups marinara sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 pound ground beef or ground turkey
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh basil leaves (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and start cooking your lasagna noodles according to the package instructions. If you’re using no-boil noodles, you can skip this step.
- While your noodles are cooking, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef or turkey and cook until browned. Drain any excess fat. Stir in garlic powder, onion powder, dried basil, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Pour in 1 cup of marinara sauce and mix well, letting it simmer for about 5-10 minutes.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, egg, and half of the Parmesan cheese. Mix until smooth and season with a bit of salt and pepper.
- Now, it’s time to assemble! Spread a thin layer of marinara sauce at the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking. Layer 3-4 noodles on top, followed by half of the ricotta mixture, half of the meat mixture, and a third of the mozzarella cheese. Repeat the layering process: noodles, ricotta, meat, and mozzarella again. Top with the remaining noodles, marinara sauce, and finish with the rest of the mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
- Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil (to prevent sticking, spray the foil with cooking spray or place it on top loosely). Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 20 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown. Let it cool for 10-15 minutes before slicing.
Notes
For a vegetarian option, swap the ground meat for sautéed vegetables like zucchini, mushrooms, or spinach. Skim or low-fat cheeses can be used for a lighter meal.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 70mg