Simple Lasagna Recipe

5 from 1 vote

This homemade lasagna recipe is rich, decadent and so simple you might even call it life-changing. Made with beef, spicy Italian sausage and four different cheeses, no one would ever know it didn’t take you all day to prepare.

Prep Time35

Cook Time1 15

Total Time1 50

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American, Italian

Servings: people

Calories: 469kcal

Author: The Carefree Kitchen

Ingredients

16 each lasagna noodles

Lasagna Sauce Recipe

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium yellow onion chopped
1 pound spicy Italian sausage
1 pound ground beef
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon garlic minced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 quarts marinara sauce

Cheese Mixture for Lasagna

15 ounces cottage cheese
15 ounces ricotta cheese
1½ cups mozzarella cheese shredded
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese grated
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons parsley chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

Additional Lasagna Ingredients

1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded, to sprinkle on top before baking
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese grated
2 teaspoons parsley chopped, for garnish

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

To Prepare No-Boil Noodles

In a large bowl or 9 by 13" baking dish, add lasagna noodles. Pour hot tap water over the noodles and let them soak in the hot water for 20-30 minutes while you prepare the other ingredients.

To Prepare Meat Sauce

In a large skillet over medium heat, add the olive oil. Once hot, add the onions and saute until transparent—about 5 minutes. Add the sausage, ground beef and 1/4 cup of water to the onions and cook over medium heat for about 3 minutes, using a spoon to break up the meat.
Add minced garlic, then cook until the meat is no longer pink, or about 5 minutes more. Turn off the heat and add salt and pepper to taste, then add in the marinara sauce and mix until combined. Set aside.

To Prepare Cheese Mixture

In a large bowl, add the cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, eggs, parsley, salt and nutmeg. Mix until well-combined.

Assembling the Lasagna

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Spray a deep 9" by 13" baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
Spread about 1 cup of the meat sauce in the bottom of your baking dish, place 4 noodles on top of the meat sauce, spread about a 1/3 of the cheese mixture on the noodles, and cover with about 2 cups of meat sauce. Repeat two more times (noodles, cheese sauce, meat sauce, noodles, cheese sauce, meat sauce).
To finish the lasagna, cover with a final layer of lasagna noodles and top with 1 cup of meat sauce to cover the pasta. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella and 1/3 cup of parmesan cheese evenly over the top. Cover the lasagna with foil and place the baking dish onto a baking sheet.
Bake for about 45 minutes. Uncover and continue to cook for about 30 minutes, or until the lasagna is bubbly and the cheese is golden brown.
Remove from the oven and let the lasagna sit for 10 minutes before garnishing with parsley and slicing. Enjoy!

Notes

Storing leftovers: store leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. To thaw, transfer to the fridge overnight. Bake as directed the next day.

Reheating: either microwave or reheat in a preheated 350 degree oven, covered with foil, until warmed through.

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