Homemade Lasagna (VIDEO)

This easy Lasagna Recipe is meaty, cheesy, saucy, and packed with flavor in every bite. Homemade lasagna is better than any restaurant version, and it feeds a crowd for way less than going out to eat.

My love for lasagna runs deep, and I’ve heard over and over from our readers that this is the best lasagna recipe they’ve ever made.

Seriously the Best Lasagna!

We love lasagna around here and have gotten creative over the years with Lasagna Soup, Chicken Lasagna, and even Chocolate lasagna (does that count?).

Lasagna is the perfect meal, and of all of the recipes I’ve tried over the years, this is the perfect lasagna. We loved it so much, we even turned it into Lasagna Roll Ups and Zucchini Lasagna (which is gluten-free). It’s flavorful and satisfying but also easy to make.

In our house, lasagna is a staple for busy school nights because it keeps, reheats, and freezes so well, and it’s nice to have something in the fridge to enjoy throughout the week. I even use it for kids’ lunches—I pack a serving in my son’s thermos to keep it hot, and that thermos comes home empty every time.

Ingredients for Lasagna

This 3-cheese lasagna is the ultimate comfort food, and the ingredients are refrigerator and pantry staples. See the recipe card below for exact quantities.

• Ground beef – We used 80/20 beef (20% fat content) for a juicier lasagna but a lean ground beef is perfectly acceptable. You can also sub half of the beef with Italian sausage for variety.
• Onion – we use yellow onion, or sweet onion works well
• Garlic cloves – you can add more if you love garlic
• Red wine – This amps up the flavor of your sauce (do not use cooking wine). You can sub wine with beef broth or stock.
• Marinara sauce – Use homemade marinara or store-bought.
• Dried thyme – Italian seasoning, basil, or oregano can be substituted
• Sugar – balances the acidity of the tomatoes
• Parsley – flat-leaf or curly parsley works well
• Lasagna noodles – Cook these al dente; they’ll continue to soften as the lasagna bakes. You can also use no-boil noodles.
• Cottage cheese – adds great texture and moisture.
• Ricotta cheese – we use low-fat or part-skim ricotta
• Mozzarella cheese – An Italian cheese blend works, but mozzarella is definitely the classic choice
• Egg – helps hold the cheese layer together

How to Make the Meat Sauce

If you’d like to get a head start on this recipe, you can make the meat sauce a day or two in advance. That said, it’s still easy enough to make it all in one go, even for a weeknight dinner.

• Brown the beef – Add oil to a deep pan and sautee onion and beef until browned, 5 minutes then add garlic and stir another minute.
• Finish the sauce – Pour in 1/4 cup of wine and stir until almost evaporated. Add marinara, salt, pepper, thyme, sugar, and parsley; bring to a simmer, then cover and cook the tomato sauce 5 minutes.
  

How to Make the Cheese Sauce

1. Make the cheese filling – Combine all the cheese sauce ingredients and 1 cup of mozzarella in a mixing bowl (reserve the rest for later).

How to Make Lasagna

1. Prep – Preheat your oven to 375ºF and cook the lasagna noodles in a pot of well-salted water until al dente, then drain and pour in cold water to stop the cooking process and prevent sticking.
2. Assemble – Spread 1/2 cup of the meat sauce on the bottom of a 9×13-inch casserole dish. Add 3 noodles, followed by 1/3 of the meat sauce, 1 cup of mozzarella, and half of the ricotta mixture. Repeat, then for the top layer, add 3 noodles, 1/3 of the meat sauce, and the remaining mozzarella.

3. Bake – Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 375˚F for 45 minutes, then remove the foil and broil for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the cheese is lightly browned.
4. Rest – Let the lasagna rest for about 30 minutes before cutting and serving. 
   

Which is better for lasagna, cottage cheese or ricotta?

I use both; cottage cheese is healthier, and ricotta is creamier, so you get the best of both worlds by using both of these cheeses in your lasagna. I admit cottage cheese isn’t traditional for Italian lasagna, so if that upsets you, you’ll love the classic Italian-style lasagna in my Cookbook!

What is “al dente”?

Cooking al dente pasta means it should be “firm to the bite.” The package instructions will provide the cook time for pasta to reach al dente. Keep in mind, the lasagna will be baked for 45 minutes so it’s better if your noodles are undercooked.

What is the best marinara sauce for lasagna?

Homemade marinara is definitely best, but if you don’t have time to make it, use your favorite store-bought marinara sauce. A high-quality sauce like Rao’s is a good bet, but here’s a fun article about the best Marinara Sauces.

Can I double the lasagna recipe?

Yes, you can easily double this recipe, but you’ll need to bake the lasagna in two pans unless you have a freakishly large casserole dish. Doubling the recipe is a nice way to make one ahead (stash it in the freezer, or share it with someone).

What to Serve with Lasagna

Lasagna is a satisfying meal on its own, but if you’re feeding a big crowd, you can stretch it out by serving it with:

• Easy Garlic Bread
• Caesar Salad
• Focaccia Bread
• Caprese Salad
• Panzanella Salad with the Best Dressing

Make-Ahead and Storage

Here’s everything you need to know about storing lasagna for later.

• To Refrigerate: You can assemble the lasagna and store it covered in the refrigerator for a day or two until you are ready to bake.
• Freezing: Lasagna can be frozen before or after baking. Either way, it will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months when wrapped well or stored in an airtight container.
• To Reheat: Thaw frozen lasagna in the refrigerator first; this reduces the time needed for baking and ensures more even heating. Bake according to the recipe instructions; if your lasagna was already baked and you’re simply reheating it, cover the baking dish with foil and reheat at 350ºF until warmed through.
• Slow Cooker Lasagna – this is one of our favorite ways to make dinner ahead of time.

With its meaty sauce and layers of cheese, we think you’ll agree that this is the best lasagna recipe ever!

More Italian Pasta Recipes

If you love this lasagna, then you won’t want to miss these pasta recipes:

• Baked Ziti (Easy Pasta Casserole)
• Chicken Pesto Pasta
• Spaghetti and Meatballs
• Creamy Baked Feta Pasta
• Mom’s Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo
• Stuffed Shells
• Manicotti