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).

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 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.

Is there a wrong way 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.

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.

Why do you put eggs in lasagna? ›

Eggs help bind the ricotta cheese, but if you don't have eggs on hand then it's OK to omit them. Adding egg to ricotta cheese helps to bind the cheese for lasagna so that it doesn't ooze out of the casserole when you cut it. Basically, the egg helps all the cheesy goodness stay intact.

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

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). But i should say. only boil them for a couple minutes max! Just enough to make them not crunchy.

How long to put a lasagna in the oven? ›

Once the lasagna is made, bake at 375 degrees covered with foil for about 45 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes. At the end you can broil for just a couple of minutes if you want the cheese to get nice and browned! Top with dried parsley, Parmesan cheese, and serve!

Is it better to make lasagna a day ahead? ›

You can make it ahead.

The lasagna needs at least 5 hours to chill and let the sauce soften the noodles, but you can definitely make it the night before (even 3 days before) and bake it when you need it. Want your own freezer lasagna? Wrap it up in foil once you assemble it, no need to bake it beforehand.

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.

What can I add to my 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. Lasagna noodles: Use store-bought or homemade lasagna noodles.

Why do you put milk in lasagna? ›

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

How many layers does authentic lasagna have? ›

Generally, lasagna has about 3 or 4 layers of pasta, with sauce, ricotta cheese, mozzarella, béchamel, and sometimes meat or even meatballs or sausage between those layers. Our many layer lasagna has around 12 layers of pasta, or even more depending on how thin you end up rolling the dough.

Is the top layer of lasagna meat or pasta? ›

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. Finish by topping the lasagna with 4 noodles.

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.

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.

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