Here’s a classic homemade lasagna recipe—rich, cheesy, and layered with love. It’s everything lasagna should be: savory meat sauce, creamy ricotta filling, perfectly cooked noodles, and bubbling cheese on top.
🍽️ Homemade Lasagna (Traditional Style)
Layered · Hearty · Crowd-Pleasing
Ingredients:
For the Meat Sauce:
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1 lb ground beef (or ½ beef + ½ Italian sausage)
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1 small onion, finely chopped
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3 cloves garlic, minced
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1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
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1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
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2 tbsp tomato paste
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1 tsp sugar
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1 tsp Italian seasoning
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Salt & pepper, to taste
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Optional: pinch of red pepper flakes or fresh basil
For the Ricotta Layer:
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15 oz ricotta cheese
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1 egg
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1/3 cup grated Parmesan
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2 tbsp chopped parsley or basil
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Salt & pepper, to taste
Other:
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9 lasagna noodles (or more, depending on dish size)
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3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
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Extra Parmesan for topping
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Olive oil (for noodles or sautéing)
Instructions:
1. Cook the Meat Sauce:
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In a large skillet or pot, cook ground beef and onion over medium heat until browned.
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Add garlic and cook another 30 seconds.
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Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, sugar, seasoning, salt, and pepper.
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Simmer for 20–30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Prep the Ricotta Mixture:
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In a bowl, mix ricotta, egg, Parmesan, parsley, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
3. Boil the Noodles:
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Cook noodles according to package directions in salted water. Drain and lightly coat with olive oil to prevent sticking.
Shortcut: Use oven-ready noodles if preferred—no boiling needed.
4. Assemble the Lasagna (in a 9×13″ baking dish):
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Layer 1: Sauce (thin layer to prevent sticking)
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Layer 2: 3 lasagna noodles
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Layer 3: 1/3 of ricotta mixture
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Layer 4: 1/3 of meat sauce
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Layer 5: 1 cup mozzarella
➡️ Repeat layers (noodles → ricotta → sauce → mozzarella) until you run out, finishing with a generous layer of meat sauce and mozzarella on top. Sprinkle extra Parmesan over everything.
5. Bake:
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Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
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Cover with foil (tip: spray foil with cooking spray to prevent sticking).
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Bake for 25 minutes covered, then 15–20 minutes uncovered, until bubbly and golden.
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Let rest for 15 minutes before slicing (crucial for clean layers!).
🧄 Tips & Variations:
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Add spinach to the ricotta layer for a veggie boost.
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Want it cheesier? Add provolone or fontina to the mozzarella layer.
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Meatless version: Skip meat and double up on veggies like mushrooms, zucchini, or eggplant.