★★★★★ 91 reviews · 25 minutes · Our best Classic Lasagna Recipe that is supremely beefy, cheesy, saucy and so easy! Homemade lasagna is way better than any restaurant version. #lasagna #homemadelasagna #lasagnarecipe #pasta #casserole #dinner #video #videorecipe #lasagnavideo
Ultimate Meat Lasagna With Four Cheeses, A Homemade Marinara Sauce And A Few Quick Chef Tricks Will Make You Feel Like You’ve Ordered Lasagna At Your Favorite Italian Restaurant.
This easy lasagna recipe is one I’ve been working on since my 7th grade home economics class. Over the years the recipe has been changed probably over a hundred times, but in the last 5 years it has not changed a single time. I finally got to a place with the recipe that I knew this was truly the Ultimate Meat Lasagna.
What are the best noodles for lasagna:
Classic noodles are favored for recipes where you boil the noodles but this recipe calls for the no boil Barilla variety for ease and for the look. The noodles resemble handmade noodles more and serve in a neater way.
Keyword: lasagna, lasagna recipe
Cuisine: Italian
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Calories: 368 kcal
Servings: 12 slices
Ingredients
Ingredients for Lasagna
- 1 lb ground beef (15-20% fat content)
- 1 small onion finely diced
- 2 large garlic cloves minced
- 1/4 cup red wine (any kind), or beef broth
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 24 oz Marinara Sauce (3 cups)
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper ground
- 1/4 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp granulated sugar
- 2 Tbsp parsley finely chopped
- 9 lasagna noodles cooked al dente
Ingredients for Cheese Sauce:
- 16 oz low-fat cottage cheese
- 15 oz reduced fat ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- 2 Tbsp parsley finely chopped, plus more to garnish
- 4 cups mozzarella cheese shredded, divided
Instructions
How to Make Meat Sauce:
Place a deep pan or dutch oven over medium/high heat and add 1 Tbsp olive oil, 1 lb ground beef and diced onion. Saute, breaking up the meat, for 5 minutes or until beef is no longer pink. Add pressed garlic and sauté another minute until fragrant.
Add 1/4 cup wine and stir for 2 minutes or until wine is nearly evaporated. Add 3 cups marinara, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper, 1/4 tsp thyme, 1/2 tsp sugar and 2 Tbsp parsley. Bring to a simmer then cover and cook 5 minutes.
How to Make Cheese Sauce:
In a large mixing bowl, combine 16 oz Cottage Cheese, 15 oz Ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella, 1 egg and 2 Tbsp parsley. Mix well.
How to Make Lasagna:
Preheat oven to 375˚F. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add salt and 9 lasagna noodles. Cook until al dente according to package instructions.
Spread 1/2 cup meat sauce in the bottom of a deep 9x13 casserole dish.
Add 3 noodles, spread on 1/3 of the meat sauce and sprinkle with 1 cup mozarella cheese. Spoon on and spread the top with 1/2 of your cheese sauce.
Repeat until you have 3 layers of noodles:
Add 3 noodles, 1/3 meat sauce, 1 cup mozarella cheese, 1/2 cheese sauce
Add 3 noodles, remaining 1/3 meat sauce, remaining 1 cup mozarella.
Poke 9-12 toothpicks over the surface of your lasagna (to keep the foil from sticking to the cheese). Cover with foil and bake at 375˚F for 45 minutes.
Remove foil and broil for 3 to 5 minutes, or until cheese turns golden. Let lasagna rest 30 min before slicing.
