Description
Easy Meat Lasagna is a hearty, classic Italian-American dish layered with rich meat sauce, creamy ricotta, gooey mozzarella, and tender lasagna noodles—perfect for a comforting family dinner.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 9 lasagna noodles
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 lb Italian sausage (optional)
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 15 oz ricotta cheese
- 1 egg
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook lasagna noodles according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; sauté until softened.
- Add ground beef and Italian sausage (if using). Cook until browned. Drain excess fat.
- Stir in marinara sauce and Italian seasoning. Simmer for 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
- In a bowl, mix ricotta cheese with egg and a pinch of salt.
- Spread a thin layer of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Layer 3 noodles, 1/3 of the ricotta mixture, 1/3 of the meat sauce, and 1/3 of the mozzarella. Repeat layers two more times.
- Top with Parmesan cheese and cover with foil.
- Bake for 25 minutes, then uncover and bake for another 15–20 minutes until golden and bubbly.
- Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Use no-boil noodles to save time.
- Can be made ahead and refrigerated or frozen before baking.
- Swap ricotta for cottage cheese for a lighter version.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 750mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 90mg