The Best Classic Lasagna

The Best Classic Lasagna Recipe – Homemade lasagna full of pasta, ricotta, a homemade meat sauce, and tons of cheese.  This is the world’s best lasagna recipe!

I’ve been working on this meat lasagna recipe for over a year.

I set out to make the best traditional lasagna recipe.  Every time I made it, I’d make little tweaks here and there until I thought it was just right.

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I think I finally nailed it!

How to make lasagna:

• Make the meat sauce
• Make a ricotta cheese mixture
• Boil the pasta
• Assemble the lasagna
• Bake
• Cool
• Enjoy

How to layer lasagna:

• Spread a thin layer of pasta sauce in the bottom of a baking dish
• Make a layer of cooked lasagna noodles
• Spread an even layer of the ricotta cheese mixture
• Spread an even layer of meat sauce
• Repeat those layers two times
• Top it with a final layer of noodles, sauce, mozzarella, and parmesan cheese

How to bake lasagna:

• Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil
• Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes
• Remove the foil and bake for 15 more minutes
• Let the lasagna rest for at least 15 minutes before slicing

Wondering what to serve with this amazing lasagna recipe?  Try these.

• Salad with Homemade Garlic & Herb Vinaigrette
• Zesty Tomato Broccoli Salad – From Inspire a Creation
• Homemade Garlic Bread – From Recipe Tin Eats

You may also like:

• The Best Classic Meatloaf Recipe
• The Best Classic Chili Recipe
• The Best Classic Buttermilk Banana Bread Recipe

Watch the step by step video for The Best Classic Lasagna recipe below.

5 from 2 votes

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Best Classic Lasagna Recipe

Prep Time

20 mins

Cook Time

1 hr 30 mins

Total Time

1 hr 50 mins

 

The Best Classic Lasagna Recipe - Homemade lasagna full of pasta, ricotta, a homemade meat sauce, and tons of cheese.  This is the world's best lasagna recipe!

Course: Dinner, Entree, Main Course

Cuisine: American, Italian

Keyword: best lasagna, classic lasagna, homemade lasagna recipe, lasagna recipe

Servings: 12 servings

Calories: 463 kcal

Author: Amanda Finks

Ingredients

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1/2 lb. sweet Italian sausage
• 1 medium onion -chopped
• 2 garlic cloves -minced
• 1 (15 oz.) can tomato sauce
• 1 (15 oz.) can crushed tomatoes
• 2 (6 oz.) cans tomato paste
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 3 teaspoons salt -divided
• 3 teaspoons Italian seasoning -divided
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil leaves -divided
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup minced fresh flat-leaf parsley -divided
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese -divided
• 15 oz. (1 3/4 cups) whole milk Ricotta cheese
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese -divided
• 1 large egg
• 12 lasagna noodles

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Make the meat sauce. Add beef and sausage to a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon. Add the onion and garlic. Cook until meat is browned, about 6-8 minutes. Drain the fat from the meat. Return the meat to the skillet.

3. Add the tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, water, sugar, 2 teaspoons salt, 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon basil, and the black pepper. Stir until well combined. Cover and reduce the heat to low. Simmer the sauce for 30 minutes. Stir in 2 tablespoons of the minced parsley.

4. As the sauce cooks, make the ricotta mixture. In a large bowl, add 1 cup mozzarella, the ricotta, 1/4 cup parmesan, 2 tablespoons of the parsley, the egg, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, and 1/2 teaspoon basil. Stir until well incorporated.

5. Cook the pasta al dente, according to it’s package directions.

6. Assemble the lasagna. In a 13x9 inch baking dish, add a thin layer of meat sauce. Layer 3 lasagna noodles, 1/3 of the ricotta mixture, and 1 1/2 cups of meat sauce. Repeat the layers twice.

7. Add a final layer of the remaining noodles, meat sauce, 1 cup mozzarella, and 1/4 cup parmesan.
8. Cover with foil that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Bake for 45 minutes. Remove the foil. Bake 15 more minutes.
9. Let the lasagna cool for 15-20 minutes before cutting.

Recipe Video

Nutrition Facts

Best Classic Lasagna Recipe

Amount Per Serving (1 /12th of the recipe)

Calories 463 Calories from Fat 216

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 24g 37%

Saturated Fat 11g 55%

Cholesterol 91mg 30%

Sodium 1420mg 59%

Potassium 812mg 23%

Total Carbohydrates 36g 12%

Dietary Fiber 3g 12%

Sugars 10g

Protein 25g 50%

Vitamin A 22.3%

Vitamin C 18%

Calcium 27.4%

Iron 20.5%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.