Tl;dr: Meaty, cheesy, saucy, and full of flavor, it’s hard to pass up a lasagna that’s great for Sunday dinners or to feed a party.

Stats

• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 50 mins
• Serving Size: 4-6
• Featured Gear: Le Creuset Rectangular Dish with Platter Lid, Viking 3-Ply 8 Qt Multi-Cooker/Pasta Pot with Bonus Steamer, KitchenAid Enameled Cast Iron Induction Skillet

Lasagna is a dish that holds a special place in my heart. Growing up, it was a highly-anticipated affair that accompanied the special appearance of my aunt Evelyn from New York. Being married to an Italian man meant that lasagna was a regular meal at her home, one she perfected and one our family enjoyed when she visited. I remember those dinners well, all the cousins fighting for a bit more of the rich, meaty lasagna bathed in melted cheese and herb-inflected tomato sauce, second helpings often fiercely bartered for favors, and the odd five-dollar bill.

One year, when visiting New York, I begged her to teach me her famous lasagna. I sat at her kitchen counter watching her nimbly putting together all the ingredients, frying whole smashed garlic with a pair of chopsticks, squeezing the sausage meat out of its casings, telling me the secret to the perfect lasagna was not to stinge on cheese (so true), and why she preferred certain brands of sauce (anything but Ragu) over others. I don’t need to tell you that our lunch was divine. It was the perfect proportion of pasta, cheese, and meat sauce, it’s no wonder my Uncle Bob rarely dined outside the home.

That afternoon, I took home a precious family heirloom. Over the years, I’ve adapted her recipe to suit my own preferences – she cooks her own sauce with tomato paste and crushed tomatoes, I take the easy way out with a jarred version, she uses seasoned Italian sausage, I prefer a mix – but what I haven’t swapped out is the energy and love that goes into preparing this family treasure. I hope you enjoy this homemade lasagna recipe and go on to adapt it to be a version your family comes to know and love.

What You’ll Need

• Rectangular Dish: This 14.5" x 9" broiler-safe stoneware dish is a great oven-to-table pan option to serve your lasagna in because of its ability to retain and distribute heat evenly. And because it comes with a platter lid, transporting it is a little less problematic.
• Pasta Pot: Every home benefits from having a pasta pot with a fitted insert that allows you to cook the pasta and then lift and drain directly while leaving the water for additional rounds of cooking or for some precious pasta water.
• Cast Iron Skillet: This skillet’s thick cast iron body allows you to get that nice brown sear on ground meats, and because it has an enamel coating, you don’t have to worry about the acidic tomato sauce compromising your skillet’s coating.

Ingredients

• 1 lb lasagna noodles
• ¾ lb lean ground beef
• ¾ lb ground sausage or pork
• 1 onion, diced
• ½ - 1 whole garlic, minced
• 24 oz jar Marinara sauce (home-cooked or store-bought)
• 2 tbsp. dried parsley
• 2 tbsp. dried basil
• 2 tbsp. dried oregano
• 1 tbsp salt, or to your preference
• 1 tbsp pepper, or to your preference
• sugar (optional; season for taste)
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 cup Mozzarella cheese, shredded
• ½ cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
• Ricotta Cheese Mixture
• 15 oz whole milk ricotta cheese
• 1 egg, beaten
• ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 tbsp mozzarella cheese, shredded 1 tbsp parmesan cheese, shredded

Directions

Step 1: Boil Lasagna Noodles

Bring a large pot of salted water to boil, and cook lasagna noodles until al dente or according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water and dress with some olive oil so it doesn’t stick.

Step 2: Brown The Meat

In the skillet, add olive oil, onion, and garlic cloves and fry till fragrant. Add in ground beef and ground sausage/pork. Cook over medium-high heat until browned, then drain the fat.

Step 3: Add The Sauce

Stir in the marinara sauce, and add parsley, oregano, and basil, along with salt and pepper for taste. Reduce heat to low and let the sauce simmer uncovered for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add 1-2 teaspoons of sugar till a desired sweet-salty balance is reached.

Step 4: Preheat the oven

Set the oven to 350°F with a rack in the middle.

Step 5: Make The Ricotta Sauce

In a separate bowl, add ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan cheese to one beaten egg, add in freshly chopped parsley, and stir till combined.

Step 6: Assemble The Lasagna

Spread a spoonful of the marinara sauce at the bottom of your baking dish. Arrange 3-4 cooked lasagna noodles on top, trim or overlap as needed. Spoon a generous ladle of meat mixture over the noodles. Add tablespoon-sized dollops of the ricotta mixture over the meat. Sprinkle it with shredded mozzarella. Cover with a layer of lasagna noodles. Repeat the assembly process, ending with the meat and ricotta sauce mixture. Sprinkle the top generously with extra parmesan.

Step 7: Bake The Lasagna

Place the assembled lasagna in the oven, and cover the dish with foil to bake for 40-45 minutes at 350°F. Take it out of the oven, and let it cool for 10-15 minutes before cutting it into slices to serve. Add fresh cracked black pepper and grated parmesan for taste if required.

Tips & Substitutions

• Depending on dietary preferences, you can also use an all-mince beef mixture, but to reduce the heaviness, use 93% fat mince.
• For an extra crispy top, set the last 3-5 minutes of baking time to a low broil or until the lasagna is golden brown.
• If you prefer, you can also use Barilla’s Oven Ready Lasagna, which doesn’t need to be boiled. This also sidesteps the issue of broken lasagna noodles during the assembly stage and cuts down on the total time required.
• Fresh parsley can be omitted if you don’t have any, but it does brighten up the flavors of the ricotta mixture.
• Cottage cheese can be used 1:1 as a replacement for ricotta, but use regular, full-fat cottage cheese to avoid the lasagna being watery.
• You can add other herbs, such as fresh basil or Italian seasoning.

Final Thoughts on this Lasagna Recipe

Lasagna is one of my most beloved comfort dishes. Its adaptability can be crafted with gluten-free ingredients, brimming with vegetables (swap lasagna noodles for zucchini zoodles), or even feature plant-based meat alternatives – savory layers with melt-in-your-mouth cheese, consistently satisfying cravings. Additionally, this classic lasagna recipe is perfect for preparing in advance (just make sure to wrap it in plastic wrap tightly before putting it in the refrigerator), often a day ahead, and retains its full delicious flavors even when reheated. It’s my preferred choice for a meal train or pot-luck as it’s always a crowd-pleaser. Plus, I relish the opportunity to customize the recipe to the unique palate preferences of those enjoying it.

If you need any of the tools to make this recipe or something for one of your own recipes, reach out to any of the Kitchen Experts here on Curated. We will ensure you have everything you need to create some magic in your kitchen, too!