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

What is the correct order to layer lasagna? ›

Quick Overview:
  1. The first thing that goes on the buttered tray is a layer of red sauce. This is so that nothing sticks to the bottom.
  2. After that, add a smaller layer of white sauce.
  3. Then finally a layer of pasta.
  4. Repeat the process: red sauce, white sauce, pasta.

What to add to lasagna to make it taste better? ›

Chopped fresh rosemary, thyme, or sage would all be delicious in addition to the basil in this homemade lasagna. Add more cheese: If you like an extra cheesy topping, feel free to double the amount of mozzarella on top. Also, feel free to add in any other cheeses that you love too.

Do you bake lasagna at 350 or 375? ›

Assemble the lasagna in an oven-safe container and store it in the refrigerator. The temperature should be at or below 40 degrees. When you are ready to cook the lasagna, bake it in the oven for approximately 60 minutes at 375 degrees.

Should homemade lasagna be covered when baking? ›

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.

What is the best bottom layer for lasagna? ›

Start by spreading a layer of your tomato-based sauce (either a plain tomato sauce or your pre-made ragù) on the bottom of your dish. Next, add a single layer of pasta sheets. Then, add a layer of white sauce, followed by another single layer of pasta sheets.

How many layers is too many for lasagna? ›

FITTING IN ALL THE LAYERS

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.

How many servings of lasagna are in a 9x13 pan? ›

As a general rule of thumb, one 13x9 pan will yield 8 medium-sized portions. You can adjust the serving sizes to your family's appetite: if they have larger appetites, you cut the pan into 6 large portions, and if they have smaller appetites, you can cut the pan into 10 smaller portions.

Can you overcook lasagna in the oven? ›

Lasagna should be cooked for at least 45 minutes in a hot oven at 350°F, though it really depends on the number of layers. To prevent an overcooked surface and an undercooked center, cover with aluminum foil halfway through the cooking process.

How long should lasagna sit before baking? ›

Let the lasagna rest before cooking it

For cooking patience is an excellent ally, so when you have finished composing your lasagna, let it rest for about 40 minutes before baking it; in this way the pasta will absorb all the flavors of the condiment and the cooking will be more homogeneous and the taste richer.

Is it better to bake lasagna in a glass or metal pan? ›

Save your glass pans for lasagna, plátanos maduros horneados, baked eggs, piñon, casseroles, and doughnut bread pudding—they're easy to clean, they're so smooth they're naturally nonstick, they'll keep your kugel warm as it sits on the table, they won't cause discoloration or off-tastes when you're slow-roasting ...

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 spray the bottom of a pan when making lasagna? ›

For the best results, we offer the following tips for assembling your lasagne: Begin with a 13 x 9 x 3-inches deep baking pan, sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Spread 1 cup of sauce on the bottom of the baking pan and begin layering.

What goes first in lasagna sheet or meat? ›

Line the bottom of the baking pan with 4 cooked lasagna noodles, overlapping them. 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.

How do you make lasagna layers stick together? ›

When making the lasagna, use sliced mozzarella cheese as the top layer before adding the next layer of lasagne noodles. The melted mozzarella cheese will act like glue to hold the lasagne noodles in place. If you include a ricotta cheese layer, that layer goes on top of the noodles and keep that ricotta layer thin.

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.

How long to bake lasagna at 400 degrees? ›

How long should you bake a lasagna in the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit? The short answer is that a lasagna can be cooked in a 400 degree oven for 35-45 minutes if not frozen and 65-75 minutes if frozen.

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