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Meaty and Cheesy Lasagna

A delicious, hearty lasagna filled with layers of rich meat sauce, creamy cheese, and perfectly cooked noodles—perfect for busy nights or family gatherings.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 400
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the meaty goodness
  • 1 pound ground beef (or ground turkey for a leaner option)
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 24 ounces marinara sauce store-bought or homemade
  • 1 can (15 ounces) crushed tomatoes
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
For the cheesy layers
  • 15 ounces ricotta cheese
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
For assembly
  • 9 pieces lasagna noodles oven-ready noodles can be used to save time

Method
 

Cooking the Meat
  1. In a large skillet, brown the ground beef (or turkey) over medium heat until cooked through. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic, sautéing until fragrant, about 5 minutes.
Mixing the Sauce
  1. Stir in the marinara sauce, crushed tomatoes, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Let simmer for about 15 minutes.
Preparing the Cheese Mixture
  1. In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, the egg, half of the mozzarella, and half of the Parmesan.
Layering
  1. Spread a thin layer of meat sauce at the bottom of a greased 9×13 baking dish. Layer three lasagna noodles, half of the cheese mixture, and a layer of meat sauce. Repeat until all ingredients are used, ending with meat sauce. Sprinkle remaining mozzarella and Parmesan on top.
Baking
  1. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake at 375°F for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 15-20 minutes or until bubbly and golden.
Serving
  1. Let it cool for about 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

If using regular lasagna noodles, cook them al dente first. This dish can be assembled ahead of time and stored in the fridge before baking.