Easy Homemade Lasagna

This is the best homemade lasagna recipe this side of Italy! Classic Italian flavors and simple ingredients come together in thick layers of pasta, cheese, and rich meat sauce.

Prep time: PT30M

Cook time: PT45M

Total time: PT75M

Rating

4.59 stars (29 reviews)

Keywords

Freezer Lasagna, Homemade Lasagna

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef
1 onion (chopped)
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp garlic powder
15 oz spaghetti sauce ((I use traditional Ragu))
1 pint cottage cheese
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tbsp dried parsley
10 oz lasagna pasta ((cooked to al dente and cooled in cold water))
12 oz shredded mozzarella cheese ((about 1 ½ cups))

Cuisine

Italian

Steps

Add ground beef, onion, salt and garlic powder to a medium skillet. Cook on med-high, stirring and chopping into the beef so you have small ground size pieces, and cooking until browned and tender. Drain fat from meat using a strainer and put back into skillet. Add spaghetti sauce and simmer on low for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
In a medium bowl combine cottage cheese, parmesan cheese and dried parsley. Mix well.
Boil your lasagna noodles as directed on the box to al dente. Remove them carefully from the water with tongs and lay them across a cutting board to dry and cool off. Don’t stack them, or they will stick together. (If you are freezing this lasagna for later cook less than al dente, to where the noodles are getting soft, but still have a firm bite.)
*Layering Lasagna*
- First add a small amount of spaghetti sauce mix to the bottom of your 9x13 pan.
- Layer a single row of noodles.
- Layer 1/3 sauce.
- Layer 1/3 Mozzarella Cheese.
- Layer 1/3 Cottage cheese mixture (dotting it all over).
- Layer single row of noodles.
- Layer 1/3 sauce.
- Layer 1/3 Mozzarella Cheese.
- Layer 1/3 Cottage cheese mixture (dotting it all over).
- Layer single row of noodles.
- Layer 1/3 sauce.
- Layer 1/3 Cottage cheese mixture (dotting it all over).
- Layer 1/3 Mozzarella Cheese last so your topping will be cheesy.
BAKE IT NOW
- Cover baking dish with foil and bake in 350°F oven for 30-35 minutes. Remove foil and cok for an additional 10-12 minutes, until bubbly all over and golden on top. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.
MAKE IT A FREEZER MEAL
- Wrap baking dish tightly with plastic wrap, pressing down to gently remove air. Cover with foil, label and freeze.
THAW & COOK
- Place dish in refrigerator for at least 24 hours or up to 48 hours to thaw. Preheat oven to 350°F. Remove plastic wrap and foil, re-cover with foil. Bake for 45 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes more until bubbly all over and golden on top. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.

Nutitrion

Serving Size: 1 g
Calories: 356 kcal
Carbohydrates: 23 g
Protein: 24 g
Fat: 18 g
Saturated Fat: 9 g
Cholesterol: 63 mg
Sodium: 760 mg
Sugar: 4 g

Reviews

Chris Hall on 2025-08-17 (5 stars):
Just what I was looking for. Great video. Mine is 5 layers, with another cheese. Best to you, Chris
Alison on 2025-07-26 (5 stars):
My mom always made it with cottage cheese and it’s amazing. I’ve tried ricotta and it’s so much drier with a mild dirty sock taste. 🤢
Nancy Brandt on 2024-04-20 (5 stars):
I made this once and it was wonderful. Making it again now and realized I forgot to cover with foil! So halfway thru I covered it. Am hoping I didn’t ruin it!