There are few things more comforting than a thick slice of homemade lasagna. This easy beef lasagna recipe is designed to deliver that classic, soul-warming experience without the fuss. It’s the perfect dish for a cozy family dinner, a special occasion, or a satisfying weeknight meal. We’ve streamlined the process to ensure you get a rich, flavorful, and perfectly layered lasagna every single time.
Forget complicated steps and hard-to-find ingredients. This recipe focuses on simple, quality components to create a cheesy, meaty masterpiece that will have everyone asking for seconds. Let’s dive into making the best lasagna of your life.
Why This Easy Beef Lasagna Recipe Works
This isn’t just another lasagna recipe; it’s your new go-to. We’ve perfected the balance of a robust meat sauce, a creamy ricotta filling, and just the right amount of cheesy goodness. It’s designed to be foolproof.
Simple Ingredients: This recipe uses common pantry staples, making your grocery trip quick and easy.
Streamlined Process: We’ve cut out unnecessary steps to make this recipe truly easy, even for beginner cooks.
Perfectly Balanced Flavors: The savory meat sauce, creamy cheese, and tender pasta come together in perfect harmony.
Crowd-Pleasing Results: It’s a guaranteed hit for family dinners, potlucks, and gatherings. A classic comfort food that never disappoints.
The Essential Ingredients for Classic Lasagna
The magic of this easy beef lasagna recipe lies in its simple, high-quality ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need to bring this dish to life.
For the Hearty Meat Sauce
Ground Beef: We recommend an 85/15 blend for the perfect balance of flavor and richness without being too greasy.
Onion and Garlic: These aromatics form the essential flavor base of our sauce.
Crushed Tomatoes: A large can of quality crushed tomatoes creates a sauce with the perfect texture.
Italian Seasoning: A simple blend of dried herbs that adds instant depth and a classic Italian-American flavor.
For the Creamy Cheese Filling
Ricotta Cheese: Whole milk ricotta will give you the creamiest, most luxurious texture.
Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan adds a sharp, nutty flavor that cuts through the richness.
Egg: One large egg acts as a binder, helping the ricotta layer set and preventing it from becoming watery.
Fresh Parsley: Adds a touch of freshness and color to the cheese mixture.
For Assembling the Lasagna
Lasagna Noodles: You can use standard noodles that require boiling or no-boil noodles for an even easier assembly.
Mozzarella Cheese: Use low-moisture, whole milk mozzarella, and grate it yourself for the best melt.
How to Make the Best Easy Beef Lasagna: A Step-by-Step Guide
Follow these simple steps to create a show-stopping lasagna. We’ll walk you through preparing the sauce, mixing the cheese filling, and layering it all together for a perfect bake.
Step 1: Brown the Beef and Make the Sauce
In a large skillet or Dutch oven, cook the ground beef with diced onion over medium-high heat until the meat is browned. Drain off any excess grease. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant. Add the crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Bring the sauce to a simmer and let it cook for at least 15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
Step 2: Prepare the Ricotta Cheese Filling
While the sauce is simmering, prepare your cheese filling. In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, grated Parmesan cheese, chopped parsley, and one egg. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Mix everything together until it’s smooth and well-combined. This creamy filling is key to the best homemade lasagna.
Step 3: Cook the Noodles
Cook your lasagna noodles according to the package directions. Be sure to cook them just until al dente, as they will continue to cook in the oven. If you’re using no-boil noodles, you can skip this step entirely! Just be sure your meat sauce has a little extra moisture.
Step 4: Assemble Your Lasagna Layers
Now for the fun part! Spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish. This prevents the noodles from sticking. Arrange a single layer of cooked noodles over the sauce. Spread half of the ricotta cheese mixture over the noodles, followed by a layer of meat sauce. Sprinkle with a generous amount of shredded mozzarella. Repeat the layers: noodles, the remaining ricotta mixture, meat sauce, and more mozzarella. Finish with a final layer of noodles, the rest of the meat sauce, and a generous topping of both mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
The final result: a perfectly baked lasagna with a golden, bubbly cheese crust.
Step 5: Bake to Bubbly Perfection
Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil. This is a crucial step to ensure the lasagna cooks evenly without the top getting too brown before the center is hot. Bake in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 25 minutes. Then, remove the foil and bake for another 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and beautifully golden brown on top.
Look at those layers! Each bite is packed with savory meat sauce and creamy ricotta.
Step 6: Rest Before Serving
This is the most important tip! Let the lasagna rest for at least 10-15 minutes after you take it out of the oven. This allows the layers to set, ensuring you get clean, beautiful slices instead of a soupy mess. It’s tough to wait, but it’s worth it!
Pro-Tips for a Perfect Lasagna Every Time
Want to take your easy beef lasagna recipe to the next level? Here are a few expert tips.
Shred Your Own Cheese: Pre-shredded cheese often contains anti-caking agents that prevent it from melting smoothly. For the best cheese pull, buy blocks of mozzarella and Parmesan and grate them yourself.
Don’t Skimp on the Sauce: Make sure every layer is well-coated in sauce. This keeps the noodles moist and ensures every bite is flavorful. For another saucy favorite, check out this slow cooker BBQ chicken recipe.
Season Every Layer: A little salt and pepper in the ricotta mixture and the meat sauce makes a big difference in the final flavor.
Serving Suggestions: What Goes Well with Lasagna?
Lasagna is a hearty meal on its own, but it pairs wonderfully with a few simple sides. A crisp green salad with a vinaigrette dressing is a classic choice. Garlic bread is almost mandatory for soaking up any extra sauce on your plate. For a fuller meal, consider serving it alongside some simple roasted vegetables. If you enjoy one-pan meals, you might also like this one-pan garlic herb chicken.
Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions
This easy beef lasagna recipe is perfect for meal prep. You can assemble the entire dish up to 24 hours in advance. Simply cover it tightly and store it in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to eat, you may need to add about 10-15 minutes to the covered baking time.
How to Freeze Lasagna
To freeze an unbaked lasagna, assemble it in a freezer-safe dish, cover it tightly with plastic wrap and then foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. To bake from frozen, remove the plastic wrap, cover with foil, and bake for 60-75 minutes, then uncover and bake for another 20-25 minutes until hot and bubbly. If you love freezer-friendly meals, try our creamy potato soup recipe.
How to Reheat Lasagna
Leftover lasagna can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat individual slices in the microwave or a toaster oven. You can also reheat a larger portion in the oven at 350°F until warmed through.
Yes, you should cover the lasagna with foil for the first 25-30 minutes of baking. This traps steam and cooks the noodles and layers evenly without drying out the dish or browning the top too quickly. Remove the foil for the last 20-25 minutes to get that perfectly golden, bubbly cheese crust.
Absolutely! No-boil noodles are a great time-saver. If you use them, you can skip the boiling step entirely. Just make sure your meat sauce is slightly looser (you can add a splash of water or broth if needed) as the noodles will absorb more liquid as they bake.
There are a few keys to preventing watery lasagna. First, use whole milk ricotta and include an egg in the cheese mixture, which acts as a binder. Second, don’t use a watery sauce; let it simmer to thicken. Finally, and most importantly, let the lasagna rest for at least 10-15 minutes after baking to allow the layers to set.
Yes, this is a great make-ahead meal. You can fully assemble the lasagna, cover it tightly, and store it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before baking. You may need to add 10-15 minutes to the initial covered baking time since it will be starting from cold.
For best results, freeze the lasagna unbaked. Assemble it in a freezer-safe dish, wrap it tightly with a layer of plastic wrap and a layer of aluminum foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. You can bake it directly from frozen, but it will require a longer cooking time (typically 75-90 minutes).
Your New Favorite Weeknight Dinner
This easy beef lasagna recipe proves that you don’t need to spend all day in the kitchen to create a deeply satisfying and impressive meal. It’s a classic for a reason, and with these simple steps, it’s more accessible than ever. Give it a try, and watch it become a treasured recipe in your home.
We’d love to see your creations! If you make this recipe, feel free to share it on Pinterest and leave a comment below to let us know how it turned out!
Nothing beats a classic! Get the secrets to the perfect homemade lasagna with our easy-to-follow recipe.
Easy Beef Lasagna Recipe
FL Recipes
Easy Beef Lasagna Recipe (The Ultimate Comfort Food)
This easy beef lasagna recipe delivers classic, soul-warming flavor without the fuss. Perfect for family dinners, it features a rich meat sauce, creamy ricotta filling, and a perfectly cheesy top.
Make the Sauce: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook ground beef and chopped onion until beef is browned. Drain excess grease. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer for at least 15 minutes.
Prepare Cheese Filling: In a medium bowl, mix together ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup of the Parmesan cheese, the egg, and fresh parsley. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper.
Cook Noodles: Cook lasagna noodles according to package directions until al dente. (Skip if using no-boil noodles).
Assemble: Spread 1 cup of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Layer with noodles, half of the ricotta mixture, 1/3 of the mozzarella, and 1/3 of the meat sauce. Repeat the layer. Top with a final layer of noodles, the remaining meat sauce, the remaining mozzarella, and the remaining 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese.
Bake: Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 20-25 minutes, until the top is bubbly and golden brown.
Rest: Let the lasagna rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving.
Nutrition
Calories: 550kcalProtein: 35gFat: 30gFiber: 4g
Notes
Tip 1: For the best results, use freshly grated mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Tip 2: Letting the lasagna rest before cutting is crucial for clean, well-defined slices. Tip 3: The lasagna can be assembled up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerated before baking.
Hi, I’m Emily Carter, and welcome to FL Recipes! I share simple, healthy recipes that make cooking easy, fun, and delicious for everyone. more about me »
