Description
Looking for the best easy dinner idea? This Easy Lasagna Recipe is a classic, cheesy comfort food layered with seasoned beef, rich marinara, creamy ricotta, and gooey mozzarella. Perfect for a quick weeknight meal or a cozy weekend dinner, it’s the ultimate crowd-pleaser for family gatherings. Try this easy recipe for homemade lasagna and discover one of the best food ideas for dinner or leftovers—simple, filling, and always delicious!
Ingredients
12 lasagna noodles (regular or oven-ready)
1 pound ground beef (or half ground beef, half Italian sausage)
1 small onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
4 cups marinara sauce (about 2 jars)
15 ounces ricotta cheese
1 large egg
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Cook the lasagna noodles according to package instructions if not using oven-ready noodles. Drain and set aside.
3. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef with diced onion until browned. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Drain any excess fat.
4. Stir in marinara sauce and Italian seasoning. Simmer for 10 minutes, then remove from heat.
5. In a medium bowl, mix ricotta cheese, egg, 1/4 cup parmesan, salt, and pepper until well combined.
6. Spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.
7. Layer 3–4 noodles over the sauce, then spread a third of the ricotta mixture, followed by a third of the mozzarella, and a layer of meat sauce. Repeat for three layers, finishing with noodles, sauce, mozzarella, and remaining parmesan on top.
8. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 20–25 minutes until cheese is golden and bubbly.
9. Let the lasagna rest for 15 minutes before slicing. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
For extra flavor, use half ground beef and half Italian sausage in the sauce.
Letting the lasagna rest before slicing helps the layers set and makes serving easier.
You can assemble the lasagna up to a day ahead—just refrigerate before baking and add 10 minutes to the bake time if cold.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of recipe
- Calories: 470
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 980mg
- Fat: 23g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: easy lasagna, dinner ideas, comfort food, easy recipe, quick dinner, family meal, Italian, lasagna