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Easy Classic Lasagna Recipe

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4.2 from 11 reviews

This easy lasagna recipe features a rich homemade meat sauce layered with creamy cottage cheese, ricotta, and mozzarella, baked to golden perfection. Ready in just over an hour, it’s a comforting classic perfect for family dinners.

Ingredients

Meat Sauce

  • 1 lb ground beef (15-20% fat content)
  • 1 medium onion (finely diced)
  • 2 large garlic cloves (minced)
  • 1/4 cup dry beef broth
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 28 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)

Noodles

  • 9 lasagna noodles (cooked al dente)

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

  1. 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. Sauté, breaking up the meat for 5 minutes until beef is no longer pink. Add minced garlic and sauté another minute until fragrant. Add 1/4 cup beef broth and stir for 2 minutes until nearly evaporated. Stir in marinara sauce, salt, pepper, thyme, sugar, and 2 Tbsp parsley. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook for 5 minutes.
  2. Make Cheese Sauce: In a large mixing bowl, combine cottage cheese, ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella, egg, and 2 Tbsp parsley. Mix thoroughly until well incorporated.
  3. Prepare Noodles: Preheat oven to 375˚F. Bring large pot of salted water to a boil. Add lasagna noodles and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking and prevent sticking.
  4. Assemble Lasagna: Spread 1/2 cup meat sauce in the bottom of a deep 9×13 casserole dish. Place 3 noodles over sauce. Spread 1/3 of the remaining meat sauce on noodles, sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella, then spread half of the cheese sauce over top. Repeat layering with noodles, meat sauce, mozzarella, and cheese sauce to create 3 layers of noodles.
  5. Prepare for Baking: Poke 9-12 toothpicks over the surface of the lasagna to keep foil from sticking to the cheese. Cover with foil and bake at 375˚F for 45 minutes.
  6. Broil and Rest: Remove foil and broil for 3 to 5 minutes until cheese turns golden and bubbly. Let the lasagna rest for 30 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

  • To prevent noodles from sticking, rinse under cold water after boiling.
  • Using low-fat and reduced-fat cheeses reduces overall fat content while maintaining flavor.
  • Resting the lasagna before cutting allows layers to set for clean slices.
  • Adjust seasoning to taste, especially salt and herbs, depending on preferred flavor intensity.
  • For a vegetarian version, substitute ground beef with sautéed vegetables or plant-based meat alternatives.

Find it online: https://lauracooks.com/easy-classic-lasagna-recipe/