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A baking dish filled with an easy lasagna dinner, ready to serve.

Easy Lasagna Dinner Recipe

This easy lasagna recipe is perfect for a satisfying family dinner. Layers of rich meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and melted mozzarella come together for a classic comfort food experience.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 8 slices
Calories: 450
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Meat Sauce
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound ground beef (or Italian sausage, or a mix of both)
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 15-ounce can tomato sauce
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • sugar optional
For the Cheese Filling
  • 15 ounces ricotta cheese
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped optional
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
The Layers
  • 12-15 lasagna noodles oven-ready or no-boil
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese plus extra for topping

Equipment

  • large pot or deep skillet
  • medium bowl
  • 9x13 inch baking dish
  • aluminum foil
  • oven

Method
 

Prepare the Meat Sauce
  1. Heat olive oil in a large pot or skillet, then brown the ground beef, draining excess fat.
  2. Add onion, cook until soft, then stir in garlic until fragrant. Combine with crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, and seasonings. Simmer for 15-20 minutes.
Mix the Cheese Filling
  1. In a bowl, mix ricotta cheese, egg, Parmesan cheese, parsley, salt, and pepper until well combined.
Preheat & Prep
  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). If using traditional noodles, boil them according to package directions, then drain and rinse.
Assemble the Lasagna
  1. Spread 1/2 cup of meat sauce on the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
  2. Arrange a single layer of lasagna noodles over the sauce, overlapping slightly if using oven-ready noodles.
  3. Spread half of the ricotta mixture, then 1/3 of the meat sauce, and 1/3 of the mozzarella cheese over the noodles.
  4. Repeat with another layer of noodles, the remaining ricotta, another 1/3 of meat sauce, and another 1/3 of mozzarella.
  5. Add the last layer of noodles, followed by the remaining meat sauce. Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil.
Bake
  1. Bake for 25 minutes with foil, then remove foil, sprinkle with remaining mozzarella, and bake for another 20-25 minutes until golden and bubbly.
Rest
  1. Let the lasagna rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving to allow the layers to set.

Notes

For best results, use oven-ready or no-boil lasagna noodles to save time and effort. Letting the lasagna rest after baking is crucial for layers to set, preventing a messy dish.