Description
This classic homemade lasagna is layered with hearty meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and melty mozzarella—simple to make and perfect for a comforting family dinner.
Ingredients
1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound lean ground beef
½ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 (24 to 25-ounce) jar marinara sauce (about 3 cups), such as Rao’s or Newman’s Own
12 ounces low-moisture mozzarella cheese, shredded (about 3 cups), divided
15 dry lasagna noodles (not no-boil, about ⅔ of a 1-pound box), divided
15 to 16 ounces whole-milk ricotta cheese (about 2 cups), divided
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400ºF (200ºC) and position a rack in the center.
Brown the beef and onion: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chopped onion, ground beef, salt, and pepper. Cook, breaking up meat, until browned and cooked through (6–8 minutes). Remove from heat and cool for 5 minutes.
Assemble meat sauce: Spread a thin layer of marinara sauce in the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish. Mix remaining marinara sauce into the beef mixture.
First layer: Place 5 lasagna noodles in the baking dish. Spread with 1 cup ricotta, 1½ cups meat sauce, and 1 cup mozzarella.
Second layer: Add 5 more noodles, 1 cup ricotta, 1½ cups meat sauce, and 1 cup mozzarella.
Final layer: Add 5 final noodles, spread with remaining sauce to cover noodles. Reserve last 1 cup mozzarella for later.
Bake covered: Cover dish tightly with foil and bake for 1 hour. Check doneness by sliding a knife through layers. If not tender, bake an additional 15 minutes.
Add cheese & finish baking: Uncover and sprinkle remaining 1 cup mozzarella. Bake uncovered for 8–10 minutes, until bubbly and golden.
Cool & serve: Let lasagna rest for 15 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
Make ahead: Assemble lasagna up to 2 days in advance and refrigerate, or freeze up to 1 month. Thaw frozen lasagna in the fridge for 2 days before baking.
Storage: Store leftovers wrapped tightly in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in oven or microwave.
Customize: Add spinach, sausage, or mushrooms for variation.
- Prep Time: 20–25 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes – 1 hour 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Italian-American
