Homemade Lasagna (2024)

Prep Time:

1 hr 25 mins

Cook Time:

1 hr 15 mins

Additional Time:

10 mins

Total Time:

2 hrs 50 mins

Servings:

8

Yield:

1 9x13-inch lasagna

Jump to Nutrition Facts

Homemade lasagna isn't as hard to make as it seems. Don't be intimidated by all the layers of delicious Italian flavor — try this homemade lasagna recipe today!

Homemade Lasagna (1)

Homemade Lasagna Ingredients

These are the ingredients you'll need to make this top-rated homemade lasagna recipe:

· Meat: This lasagna recipe starts with a pound of ground meat (½ pound ground pork, ½ pound lean ground beef).
· Onion: A diced onion is cooked until translucent with the ground meat.
· Canned tomatoes: You'll need a can of tomato sauce and a can of crushed tomatoes.
· Fresh herbs: For fresh flavor, chop two tablespoons of parsley and crush one clove of garlic.
· Sugar: A dash of sugar balances out all of the acidity from the tomatoes.
· Spices and seasonings: This homemade lasagna is seasoned with dried basil, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper.
· Noodles: Of course, you'll need lasagna noodles! This recipe calls for uncooked noodles, but you can use the oven-ready variety to save time.
· Cheese: The cheese layer is made up of cottage cheese and Parmesan. You'll also need shredded mozzarella.
· Eggs: Eggs make the cheese layer extra creamy. Plus, they act as a binding agent (which means they hold the layer together).

Homemade Lasagna (2)

How to Make Homemade Lasagna

Making homemade lasagna much easier than it looks. You'll find the full, step-by-step recipe below — but here's a brief overview of what you can expect:

1. Cook the meat: Cook the ground meat in a skillet until browned and crumbly. Add the onion and continue cooking until it's translucent. Stir in the canned tomato products, half of the parsley, garlic, basil, 1.5 teaspoons of salt, oregano, and sugar.
2. Cook the noodles: Boil the lasagna noodles in lightly salted water until they're al dente.
3. Make the cheese layer: Mix cottage cheese, Parmesan cheese, eggs, the remaining parsley, the remaining salt, and pepper in a bowl.
4. Assemble the lasagna: Layer the ingredients according to the recipe (starting with sauce and ending with mozzarella) until the lasagna is assembled.
5. Bake the lasagna: Cover with foil and bake in the preheated oven for about half an hour. Remove the foil and continue baking until the top is golden brown.

How Long to Cook Lasagna

In an oven preheated to 375 degrees F, this homemade lasagna should be perfectly baked in about 50 minutes (30-40 minutes covered, 5-10 minutes uncovered).

Homemade Lasagna (3)

How to Store and Freeze Lasagna

Allow the homemade lasagna to cool completely, then transfer the leftovers to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to four days. Reheat in the oven or in the microwave.

If you plan to freeze lasagna, it's best to bake it in a foil pan. Allow it to cool completely, then tightly wrap the entire dish in storage wrap. Next, wrap it in at least one tight layer of aluminum foil. Freeze for up to three months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in the oven or microwave.

Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise

"[This is] actually quite easy to make for someone who has never made lasagna before," according to jimbob2229. "I used ricotta instead of cottage cheese and added spinach. Everyone loved it, and I will definitely make it again."

"I didn't have any ground pork in the house, so I omitted that ingredient, but it was great with just the beef," says one Allrecipes community member. "The sauce came out terrific too, much better than the stuff you find in jars."

"I made this recipe last night and it turned out fabulous," raves Daniel Steed. "I did increase the meats and sauce a little for the slightly larger pan size, but everyone loved it. I served it with garlic toast and green beans for a side."

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams

Ingredients

  • ½ pound ground pork

  • ½ pound lean ground beef

  • ½ cup minced onion

  • 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes

  • 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce

  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, divided

  • 1 clove garlic, crushed

  • 1 ½ teaspoons dried basil

  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt

  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano

  • teaspoon white sugar

  • 1 (16 ounce) package lasagna noodles

  • 1 pound small-curd cottage cheese

  • ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese

  • 3 large eggs

  • 2 teaspoons salt

  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

  • 1 (16 ounce) package shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions

  1. Combine pork and ground beef in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat; cook and stir until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Add onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes.

  2. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, garlic, basil, salt, oregano, and sugar. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes.

  3. While the sauce is simmering, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook lasagna noodles in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and set aside.

  4. While the noodles are cooking, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

  5. Mix cottage cheese, Parmesan cheese, eggs, remaining 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, salt, and pepper in a large bowl until combined.

  6. Assemble lasagna: Spread a spoon or two of sauce over the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish just to to coat it. Place two layers of noodles over the sauce to cover. Layer with 1/2 of the cheese mixture, 1/2 of the remaining sauce, and 1/2 of the mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers once more using the remaining noodles, cheese mixture, sauce, and mozzarella. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil.

  7. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes. Remove the foil and bake until cheese is golden brown, 5 to 10 more minutes.

  8. Remove from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes before cutting and serving.

    Homemade Lasagna (4)

Recipe Tip

For a more traditional filling, substitute ricotta cheese for the cottage cheese. You can also add layers of veggies, such as spinach and mushrooms, when layering your lasagna.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

638Calories
27g Fat
54g Carbs
46g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe8
Calories638
% Daily Value *
Total Fat27g35%
Saturated Fat13g67%
Cholesterol161mg54%
Sodium2053mg89%
Total Carbohydrate54g20%
Dietary Fiber5g16%
Total Sugars4g
Protein46g91%
Vitamin C13mg14%
Calcium637mg49%
Iron5mg27%
Potassium785mg17%

* 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.

Powered by the ESHA Research Database © 2018, ESHA Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Homemade Lasagna (2024)

FAQs

Which is better for lasagna cottage or ricotta? ›

The key to creating the absolute best lasagna is to use a combination of ricotta and cottage cheese. Ricotta brings the rich creaminess while cottage cheese lightens things up and seasons the whole dish. For even more cheese, we recommend also using shredded Mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese (or Pecorino Romano).

Should I bake lasagna covered or uncovered? ›

Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes. Remove the foil and bake until cheese is golden brown, 5 to 10 more minutes. Remove from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes before cutting and serving.

Do you boil lasagne sheets before making lasagne? ›

Soak the lasagne sheets in a single layer in boiling water for 5 mins. (Although the packet says no pre-cook, I find soaking improves the texture.) Drain well. Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6.

Do you put cheese in between lasagna layers? ›

Line the bottom of the baking pan with 4 cooked lasagna noodles, overlapping them. Spread the ricotta mixture first then the meat sauce on top. Sprinkle grated mozzarella and top with another three noodles. Repeat layering the ricotta and meat sauce with the cheese.

What goes first in lasagna sheet or meat? ›

How to layer a lasagne…
  1. First, spread an even layer of bolognese sauce over the base of an oven-proof dish.
  2. Then, place a single layer of pasta sheets on top. ...
  3. Next, spread over a layer of the white sauce (or béchamel) and repeat the process until both sauces are used up.

Do you add egg to ricotta for lasagna? ›

Add egg and parsley: a basic ricotta mixture calls for 16 ounces of whole milk ricotta, one egg, and a couple tablespoons of parsley. For extra creamy ricotta, add in an extra egg, a handful of grated parmesan, and a quarter cup of shredded mozzarella.

What do Italians use instead of ricotta in lasagna? ›

In Italian cuisine, ricotta cheese is a popular ingredient in many dishes, but when it's not available, Italians may substitute it with other soft cheeses like mascarpone, stracchino, or crescenza.

What temperature do you bake lasagna at? ›

Spoon on and spread the top with 1/2 of your 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.

Is it better to bake lasagna in a glass or metal pan? ›

Save your glass pans for lasagna, plátanos maduros horneados, baked eggs, piñon, casseroles, and doughnut bread pudding—they're easy to clean, they're so smooth they're naturally nonstick, they'll keep your kugel warm as it sits on the table, they won't cause discoloration or off-tastes when you're slow-roasting ...

Can you use a cake pan for lasagna? ›

If you're like me and want your lasagna to look good as well as taste good, then the trick to making this a cinch is by baking this in a springform cake tin so that you allow this to cool completely and then simply remove the sides and slice.

What size pan is best for lasagna? ›

The standard dimensions for lasagna pans are 9 x 13 inches and around two to three inches deep. That being said, you may want a smaller pan if you're just cooking for yourself or one other person. You also may prefer to get an extra deep pan if you like to make your lasagna with more layers.

How many layers should lasagna have? ›

Let me break it to you: If you want to make a lasagna, three layers just won't cut it! For the perfect lasagna, you need at least 4-5 layers to really enjoy all those mouth-watering flavors. And, here's a pro-tip: make sure to season each layer generously, but not too much. The average lasagna has 8 layers!

What happens if you don't boil lasagna sheets? ›

Should you pre cook dried lasagne sheets? yes, I always boil them anyways. If you don't your lasagne will be dry so you will have to use A LOT of sauce and bechamel (if your recipe has bechamel- my mum and nonna don't use it).

How to tell if lasagna is done? ›

Once the lasagna is ready, cover the pan with a layer of aluminum foil. Place the pan in the oven and allow it to bake for 30 minutes, then remove the foil so the cheese can brown. The lasagna is done when the internal temperature reaches 165ºF.

How do you keep the top layer of lasagna moist? ›

A layer of sauce on top of the final layer of pasta, to keep it moist, and then a fairly dense sprinkling of well aged parmesan. No mozzarella, just parmesan. At least in my kitchen. I have always mixed my ricotta with egg and milk, so it doesn't dry out during baking.

How long should you bake lasagna at 350 degrees? ›

Bake the Lasagna

Turn the oven on to 350ºF so it can preheat while you're assembling the lasagna. Once the lasagna is ready, cover the pan with a layer of aluminum foil. Place the pan in the oven and allow it to bake for 30 minutes, then remove the foil so the cheese can brown.

How long should lasagna sit before cutting? ›

When the lasagna is ready it is difficult to resist the temptation to immediately eat it, but be careful because even in this case you have to be a little patient. Wait for your lasagna to rest for about 20 minutes once it is baked, in this way it will not fall apart when cut.

Should lasagna be on top or middle shelf? ›

When in doubt, consider the middle rack an actual happy medium for baking. The center oven rack is best for: Desserts, such as cookies, pies and cakes. Pasta, such as lasagna, ziti and macaroni and cheese.

References

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