The Best Lasagna Recipe (2024)

This Homemade Lasagnais an easy, classic family favorite recipe! Delicious meaty sauce layered with cheese filling and tender pasta makes this the best lasagna recipe!

When you want a lasagna recipe that is not only delicious but easy enough to make on a weeknight, this classic, easy recipe makes the best lasagna! It’s a family favorite meal, along with other easy ground beef recipes – such as my Classic Chili, Spaghetti Sauce, Baked Ziti, and Stuffed Peppers.

The Best Lasagna Recipe (1)

Lasagna is one of my family’s favorite meals. They love this recipe so much that I keep it in regular rotation! While there are a few steps to make it, they are simple to do and result in the most flavorful, best lasagna! It’s so worth it!

Table of Contents

  • Why We Love This Recipe
  • Ingredients
  • How to Make the Best Lasagna Recipe
  • Key Ingredient Substitutions
  • More Family Meal Favorites
  • The Best Lasagna Recipe

Why We Love This Recipe

Easy recipe. Each step of the recipe is easy, uses simple ingredients, and every bite has so much flavor.

Meal prep favorite. This lasagna can easily be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator. It also freezes beautifully, making it a meal prep favorite!

Family friendly. The recipe, as written, can be adjusted based on your family’s preferences! Vegetarian – omit the meat and use mushrooms, etc.

Delicious lasagna starts with a great recipe and ingredients. Here are the ingredients and steps used to make it.

Ingredients

Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full listing of ingredients, instructions, notes, and estimated nutritional information.

Lasagna Noodles

Meat Sauce – I use ground beef and Italian sausage, along with either my homemade pasta sauce or a favorite store-bought one, along with my Stone House Seasoning, basil, oregano, and a bit of tomato paste.

Cheese Filling – My filling uses traditional Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses, along with cream cheese, Greek yogurt, and an egg with freshly chopped parsley as an option. It’s creamy, cheesy, and absolutely delectable!

If you need to make certain ingredient swaps, see the Key Ingredient Substitutions section that I have provided, along with several Lasagna Variations to follow.

How to Make the Best Lasagna Recipe

To make lasagna, you’ll follow just a few easy steps. I’ve included the step-by-step instructions below.

Make the Meat Sauce. Cook the meat in a large skillet over medium heat. Drain the meat well. Stir in the Stone House Seasoning, basil, oregano, pasta sauce, and tomato paste. Simmer until the sauce has thickened, about 5 to 10 minutes.

The Best Lasagna Recipe (2)

Make the Cheese Filling. Lightly beat the egg in a mixing bowl. Add the cream cheese, Greek yogurt, 2 cups Mozzarella cheese, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, and parsley (optional). Stir to combine well.

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Layer the Lasagna. Layer the meat sauce, noodles, and cheese filling into a 9×13 baking dish. Repeat twice. Top with the remaining 3 lasagna noodles and the remaining Meat Sauce.

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Bake. Cover lightly with foil and bake for 40 minutes. Remove the foil and top with the remaining Mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese. Bake uncovered until browned, about 15 minutes. Rest for 10 minutes before cutting and serving. I like to serve this with a big house salad.

Lasagna Summary

layer 1: meat sauce + noodles + cheese filling

layer 2: meat sauce + noodles + cheese filling

layer 3: meat sauce + noodles + cheese filling

layer 4: noodles + meat sauce

[cover and bake]

layer 5: cheese topping

[bake, rest, serve]

add a pinch best lasagna recipe
The Best Lasagna Recipe (5)

Key Ingredient Substitutions

Meat Sauce – This recipe uses a blend of two types of meat: ground beef and ground sausage. This makes for a more flavorful meat sauce. However, you can use all ground beef if you prefer. You can also substitute ground turkey and ground chicken or omit the meat altogether.

Along with the meat, the meat sauce uses pasta sauce, tomato paste, and seasonings. You can use homemade pasta sauce or your favorite store-bought. I’ve included in the recipe card notes information for making your own homemade pasta sauce, if you prefer.

Cheese Filling – I use cream cheese, Greek yogurt, Parmesan cheese, and an egg for my cheese filling. It makes for a creamy, delicious, cheesy layer.

No cream cheese or Greek yogurt? You can substitute 1 (15-ounce) container of Ricotta cheese or Cottage cheese for the cream cheese and Greek yogurt.

For an egg-free lasagna, I recommend simply omitting the egg. Due to a family member having an egg sensitivity, I’ve made this recipe egg-free many times with great success.

Delicious Lasagna Variations

Meatless Lasagna Recipe

Omit the meat altogether in this recipe and proceed with the directions as written.

Mushroom Lasagna Recipe

For a hearty, meatless lasagna, use sliced mushrooms in place of the ground beef and sausage listed in the recipe.

Spinach Lasagna Recipe

Thaw and drain frozen spinach. Squeeze to remove as much moisture as possible. Add the spinach to the cheese filling. Proceed with the recipe as written.

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Storage Tips

To make ahead. Prepare Lasagna without baking or topping with the final layer of cheese. Cover and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Add about 15 minutes to baking time.

To freeze. For the best results, freeze the lasagna unbaked and without topping it with the final layer of cheese. Allow to thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Then, bake as directed. Additional baking time may be required when baking from cold, about 15 minutes.

More Family Meal Favorites

Alfredo Sauce Recipe

Beef Stroganoff

Skillet Lasagna

Chicken Pot Pie

Chicken Noodle Soup

Eggplant Lasagna

Buffalo Chicken Lasagna

If you tried thisLasagnaor any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟star ratingand let me know how it went in thecommentsbelow. Thanks for visiting!

The Best Lasagna Recipe (7)

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The Best Lasagna Recipe

Robyn Stone

Homemade Lasagna is a classic, family favorite recipe. Layers of meat, cheese and tender pasta make a delicious meal.

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Resting Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 45 minutes minutes

Servings: 8

Ingredients

  • 1 pound lasagna noodles, cooked according to package directions

Meat Sauce

  • 1/2 pound ground beef
  • 1/2 pound Italian sausage
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Stone House Seasoning
  • 2 teaspoons dried basil
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 36 ounces pasta sauce, store-bought or homemade
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste

Cheese Filling:

  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded and divided
  • 4 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded and divided
  • 1 bunch fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

Instructions

  • Prep. Preheat oven to 350º F. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside. Cook and drain the lasagna noodles. Set aside.

  • Make the Meat Sauce. Cook ground beef and Italian sausage in a large skillet over medium heat. Drain the meat well. Stir in the Stone House Seasoning, basil, oregano, pasta sauce and tomato paste. Simmer until sauce has thickened, about 5 to 10 minutes.

  • Make the Cheese Mixture. Lightly beat the egg in a large mixing bowl. Add the cream cheese, Greek yogurt, 2 cups Mozzarella cheese, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, and parsley (optional). Stir to combine well.

  • Layer the Lasagna. Ladle 1 cup Meat Sauce into the prepared 9×13 baking dish. Top with a layer of the lasagna noodles. Spread 1/3 of the Cheese Mixture over the noodles and top with 1 cup of Meat Sauce.

    Repeat twice.

    Top with another layer of lasagna noodles and the remaining Meat Sauce.

  • Bake the Lasagna. Cover lightly with aluminum foil and bake for 40 minutes.

  • Top with Cheese and Serve. Remove foil and top with remaining 2 cups Mozzarella cheese, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Bake uncovered until browned, about 15 minutes. Rest for 10 minutes before cutting and serving.

Notes

Make-Ahead Instructions:

Prepare Lasagna without baking or topping with the final layer of cheese. Cover and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Add about 15 minutes to baking time.

Freezer Instructions:

For the best results, freeze the lasagna unbaked and without topping it with the final layer of cheese. Allow to thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Then, bake as directed. Additional baking time may be required when baking from cold, about 15 minutes.

Substitutes:

Meat Sauce: You can use all ground beef (1 pound) instead of ground beef along with Italian sausage if you prefer. Substitute ground turkey or ground chicken for the beef and sausage.

Meatless Lasagna: Omit the meat from the meat sauce. You can also use sliced mushrooms in place of the meat for a hearty, meatless option.

Cheese Filling: If you prefer, substitute 1 (15-ounce) package ricotta or cottage cheese in place of the cream cheese and yogurt.

Egg-free Lasagna: Omit the egg in the cheese filling.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 490kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 1570mg | Potassium: 699mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1703IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 450mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Enjoy!
Robyn xo

Categorized as:All Recipes, Beef Recipes, By Cooking Style, Casseroles, Christmas Recipes, Cooking, Dinner Recipes, Essentials, Freezer Friendly Recipes, Game Day Recipes, Ground Beef Recipes, Halloween Recipes, Holiday and Occasion Recipes, Make-ahead Recipes, Meal Prep Recipes, One Dish Meal Recipes, Pasta Recipes, Recipes

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About Robyn

Robyn Stone is a cookbook author, wife, mom, and passionate home cook. Her tested and trusted recipes give readers the confidence to cook recipes the whole family will love. Robyn has been featured on Food Network, People, Southern Living, and more.

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The Best Lasagna Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What can I add to lasagna to make it taste better? ›

Sugar: Two tablespoons of white sugar add subtle sweetness and enhance the flavor of the sauce. Spices and seasonings: This lasagna recipe is flavored with fresh parsley, dried basil leaves, salt, Italian seasoning, fennel seeds, and black pepper.

What not to do when making lasagna? ›

Too much between one layer and another will keep you from ever getting a perfect slice. Too little and all you'll taste is pasta. Do not put large pieces of vegetables or meat in lasagna for the same reason as above. To get a perfect lasagna, the filling should be finely sliced or even creamy.

How many layers of lasagna is best? ›

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!

Why do you put milk in lasagna? ›

Milk. It tenderises the meat, to leave you with the most tender ragù.

Why add tomato paste to lasagna? ›

A good tomato paste helps to thicken but also adds a sweet and savory umami flavor. Lean Ground Beef: Lean beef adds a robust and hearty meatiness that's essential in a classic lasagna recipe.

Should I bake lasagna in glass or metal? ›

Acidic ingredients like tomatoes and citrus can react with aluminum (the most common metal used in bakeware), creating a metallic taste in your food. This is why lasagna and other casseroles with acidic ingredients are often baked in glass.

Does lasagna cook better in glass or metal? ›

Glass pans are the way to go

For a lasagna that looks amazing and tastes great, it's important to skip the metal pan and go straight for the glass bakeware. Glass baking pans obviously don't contain aluminum, so you can layer your sauce, noodles, and cheese without worrying about losing flavor to a chemical reaction.

Should you 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.

Should you criss cross lasagna noodles? ›

(Do notice that I put the noodles criss cross – perpendicular from the layer below – it helps it to hold together when you serve it). So, the noodles directly on the cheese means there won't be enough for a top layer of noodles.

Should the top layer of lasagna be noodles or sauce? ›

There's a lot of discussion around this topic in the lasagna recipe world, but generally most lasagna recipes start with a layer of red sauce, followed by a layer of white sauce, followed by a layer of pasta and cheese. Then you continue with this layering until you have completely filled your tray.

What is the correct order to layer lasagna? ›

Begin Layering

After the initial sauce layer, add a layer of pasta sheets, ricotta mixture (or bechamel), sauce, and cheese. Then repeat the layers. Top the last layer of your lasagna with sauce and cheese. You can also alternate layers of sauce and ricotta cheese.

What is lasagna No 1? ›

1. Lasagna is one of the oldest forms of pasta recorded. It probably corresponds to the Latin "Lagana" (which in turn was derived from the Greek "laganon": large, flat sheet of pasta cut into strips) and it began to be known as "Lasagna" probably after the year 1000 AD.

How do you jazz up a lasagna? ›

How to make next level lasagne
  1. 10 tips for the perfect lasagne. Up the texture with chunky meat. ...
  2. Up the texture with chunky meat. ...
  3. Add pancetta or bacon. ...
  4. Squeeze in some ketchup. ...
  5. Don't be shy with the wine. ...
  6. Try a wild mushroom white sauce for added luxury. ...
  7. Use three types of cheese. ...
  8. Choose egg pasta sheets.

How do you fix bland lasagna? ›

Add some umami-rich ingredients: Umami is a savory taste that can be found in ingredients like mushrooms, tomatoes, and soy sauce. Adding some of these ingredients to your lasagna can help to deepen its flavor. Incorporate some cheese: Cheese is a classic lasagna ingredient that can add a lot of flavor.

How do you enhance store bought lasagna? ›

After thawing the lasagna according to the package instructions, cook it about 25 degrees higher than directed. Then, add some fresh sautéed vegetables about three-quarters of the way through. Mushrooms, asparagus, and bell peppers are all tasty ideas.

How do you doctor up lasagna? ›

4 Tips to Spice Up Your Lasagna
  1. Mix in chopped veggies to your cheese, sauces or meat layers for added flavor. Think spinach, kale, peppers, onions, eggplant, zucchini, I can go on and on!
  2. Add some spice or herbs to try out different flavors. ...
  3. Swap the pasta layers for veggies! ...
  4. Switch up the protein!
Jul 29, 2019

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