Whenever we're craving a hearty comfort food, homemade lasagna is at the top of our list. You really can't beat a tray of meaty and cheesy goodness layered between thick sheets of noodles, especially when made from scratch. The best part of making lasagna is knowing there will be leftovers, and rumor has it that it tastes even better the next day.
How to Make Lasagna From Scratch
Lasagna is a great dinner recipe to feed the entire family or bring to a dinner party. Not only is it incredibly filling, but it's a comfort food everyone loves. This recipe is 8-10 servings.
Ingredients
- 1 pound of lean ground beef
- 1 finely chopped shallot
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon dried basil (or 2 tablespoons chopped, fresh basil)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano (or 2 teaspoons fresh oregano)
- 1½ teaspoons salt
- 1 (16-ounce) can tomato sauce + 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce (approximately 4½-5 cups of tomato sauce)
- 12 dry lasagna noodles
- 1 pint part-skim ricotta cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 pound grated mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, brown ground beef and onion over medium heat. Drain fat before mixing in shallot, garlic, basil, oregano, and salt.
- Stir in tomato sauce and let it simmer for 30 to 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil and add lasagna noodles. Cook according to package instructions and drain well.
- In a medium bowl, mix together ricotta, Parmesan cheese, parsley, and 1 teaspoon salt.
- Cover the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish with a layer of lasagna noodles. Cover noodles with ½ of the ricotta mixture, ¼ of the mozzarella cheese, and ¼ of the meat and tomato sauce. Repeat the same steps with each layer.
- For the remaining noodles, top with sauce and sprinkle remaining mozzarella and additional Parmesan cheese.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.
- Remove from oven and let it cool before serving.
Love a cheesy lasagna? Try adding these other cheeses: mascarpone, Asiago, and provolone.
Make It Vegetarian
Swap out the ground beef for a veggie concoction instead. Experiment with your tomato sauce filling with seasonal veggies or some of your favorite greens. Here's a list of vegetables that will turn your lasagna into a nutritious dish.
- Bell peppers
- Broccoli
- Fresh tomatoes
- Artichokes
- Kale
- Roasted garlic
- Eggplant
- Zucchini
- Olives
Roast your vegetables to give your veggie lasagna that extra hearty kick. Use a food processor to dice up your roasted vegetables before adding them to your tomato sauce.
Frozen Lasagna
Trust us when we say you want to freeze any leftover lasagna. It makes last-minute dinners easy, especially if they're individually wrapped and ready to heat. Cut your lasagna into individual serving sizes and wrap it in plastic wrap several times and then with aluminum foil. Frozen lasagna lasts for up to 3 months.
To reheat individual servings of frozen lasagna, unwrap the lasagna and put it in a small baking dish. Cover with foil. Put it in a cold oven, turn the oven on to 350°F, and let it heat up for one hour.
Homemade Lasagna Made Easy
Ditch the frozen lasagna and whip one up from scratch instead. Making a homemade lasagna is hearty and delicious, but seeing the sizzling pan on the dinner table is rewarding, knowing that the entire process was made using fresh ingredients. This easy homemade lasagna recipe turns Sunday dinners into a special family tradition.
