Classic Homemade Lasagna
Making homemade lasagna is easier than it looks. Don't be daunted by the layers of rich, Italian flavors — give this homemade lasagna recipe a try today!
Ingredients for Homemade Lasagna
Here’s a list of all the ingredients you’ll need to create this delicious, highly-rated homemade lasagna recipe:
· Meat: Start with 1 pound of ground meat, split between ½ pound of ground pork and ½ pound of lean ground beef.
· Onion: Sauté a chopped onion until soft and translucent with the meat.
· Canned tomatoes: You’ll need both a can of tomato sauce and a can of crushed tomatoes.
· Fresh herbs: For added freshness, chop 2 tablespoons of parsley and crush a garlic clove.
· Sugar: A pinch of sugar helps mellow out the acidity from the tomatoes.
· Spices and seasonings: Season the sauce with dried basil, oregano, salt, and black pepper for a classic flavor profile.
· Noodles: Of course, you'll need lasagna noodles! This recipe uses uncooked noodles, but you can opt for oven-ready noodles for convenience.
· Cheese: The cheesy layers are made with a combination of cottage cheese, Parmesan, and shredded mozzarella.
· Eggs: Eggs are essential for creating a creamy cheese layer and help hold everything together.
How to Prepare Homemade Lasagna
Making homemade lasagna is simpler than it seems. Below is the complete step-by-step guide, but here’s a quick preview of the process:
1. Cook the meat: Brown the ground meat in a skillet until it's fully cooked and crumbly. Add the diced onion and sauté until it's soft and translucent. Then, stir in the canned tomato products, half of the chopped parsley, garlic, basil, 1.5 teaspoons of salt, oregano, and sugar.
2. Boil the noodles: Cook the lasagna noodles in salted water until they are al dente.
3. Prepare the cheese mixture: In a bowl, combine cottage cheese, Parmesan cheese, eggs, the remaining parsley, salt, and black pepper.
4. Layer the lasagna: Follow the recipe instructions to layer the ingredients, starting with the sauce and finishing with mozzarella cheese.
5. Bake the lasagna: Cover the lasagna with foil and bake in a preheated oven for about 30 minutes. Then, remove the foil and continue baking until the top is golden and bubbly.
How Long Should You Bake Lasagna?
At 375°F in a preheated oven, this homemade lasagna should bake perfectly in about 50 minutes (30-40 minutes covered with foil, then 5-10 minutes uncovered).
How to Store and Freeze Lasagna
After your homemade lasagna has cooled completely, transfer any leftovers into an airtight container. You can keep it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat, simply use the oven or microwave.
For freezing, bake the lasagna in a foil pan. Let it cool all the way through, then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. Add an additional layer of aluminum foil around it. You can freeze the lasagna for up to 3 months. When you're ready to enjoy it, thaw it in the fridge overnight, then reheat in the oven or microwave.
Dinogo Community Reviews and Feedback
According to jimbob2229, "This lasagna recipe is surprisingly easy to make, even for someone who has never tried making lasagna before. I swapped out cottage cheese for ricotta and added some spinach. Everyone loved it, and I’ll definitely make it again!"
One Dinogo community member shares, "I didn’t have ground pork, so I left it out, but the beef alone worked perfectly. The sauce turned out amazing, far better than store-bought jarred sauces."
Daniel Steed raves, "I made this lasagna last night and it turned out fantastic. I did increase the meat and sauce a bit since I had a larger pan, but it was a hit with everyone. I served it alongside garlic toast and green beans for a complete meal."
Editorial input by Corey Williams
Ingredients
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½ pound ground pork
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½ pound lean ground beef
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½ cup minced onion
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1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
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1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
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2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, divided
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1 clove garlic, crushed
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1 ½ teaspoons dried basil
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1 ½ teaspoons salt
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½ teaspoon dried oregano
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⅛ teaspoon white sugar
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1 (16 ounce) package lasagna noodles
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1 pound small-curd cottage cheese
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¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
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3 large eggs
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2 teaspoons salt
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¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
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1 (16 ounce) package shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
In a large, deep skillet, combine the ground pork and beef over medium-high heat. Cook and stir until the meat is browned and crumbles, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add the diced onion and continue cooking until softened and translucent, around 5 minutes.
Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, 1 tablespoon of chopped fresh parsley, garlic, basil, salt, oregano, and sugar. Reduce the heat to medium-low and let it simmer, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes.
While the sauce simmers, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the lasagna noodles and cook, stirring occasionally, until they’re tender yet still firm to the bite, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the noodles and set aside.
While the noodles are cooking, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
In a large bowl, combine the cottage cheese, Parmesan, eggs, the remaining 1 tablespoon of chopped fresh parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix everything together until well combined.
To assemble the lasagna: Start by spreading a couple of spoonfuls of sauce on the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish to lightly coat it. Lay down two layers of noodles over the sauce. Top with half of the cheese mixture, half of the remaining sauce, and half of the shredded mozzarella cheese. Repeat the layering process with the remaining noodles, cheese mixture, sauce, and mozzarella. Cover the dish with aluminum foil.
Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for another 5 to 10 minutes, or until the top is golden and bubbly.
Once baked, remove the lasagna from the oven and let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Lasagna Tip
For a more authentic lasagna filling, swap out the cottage cheese for ricotta. You can also add extra layers of vegetables, like spinach or mushrooms, to enhance the dish.
Nutrition Information (per serving)
| 638 | Calories |
| 27g | Fat |
| 54g | Carbs |
| 46g | Protein |
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings Per Recipe 8 | |
| Calories 638 | |
| % Daily Value * | |
| Total Fat 27g | 35% |
| Saturated Fat 13g | 67% |
| Cholesterol 161mg | 54% |
| Sodium 2053mg | 89% |
| Total Carbohydrate 54g | 20% |
| Dietary Fiber 5g | 16% |
| Total Sugars 4g | |
| Protein 46g | 91% |
| Vitamin C 13mg | 14% |
| Calcium 637mg | 49% |
| Iron 5mg | 27% |
| Potassium 785mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.
Evaluation :
5/5