Easy Cheesy Beef Lasagna (Print Version)
Layers of pasta, hearty meat sauce, and creamy cheese make this classic lasagna a delicious family favorite.
# Ingredients:
→ Meat Sauce
01 -
1 lb ground beef
02 -
1/2 lb sweet Italian sausage
03 -
1 tsp minced garlic
04 -
48 oz prepared spaghetti sauce
→ Cheese Filling
05 -
15 oz ricotta cheese or cottage cheese
06 -
2 large eggs
07 -
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
08 -
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
09 -
2 tsp dried parsley or 4 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
10 -
1/4 tsp salt
11 -
1/4 tsp black pepper
→ Assembly and Topping
12 -
12 uncooked lasagna noodles
13 -
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
14 -
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
15 -
1/4 cup water (if using thick sauce)
# Steps:
01 -
Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Spray a 9×13 casserole dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Set the dish aside while you prepare the ingredients.
02 -
In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and sweet Italian sausage together until fully browned, breaking them up as they cook. Drain and discard any excess fat. Add the minced garlic and the prepared spaghetti sauce to the meat mixture. If your sauce is very thick, you may add up to 1/4 cup of water at this stage to loosen it. Simmer everything together for about 5 minutes to blend the flavors, then remove from heat.
03 -
In a large bowl, combine the ricotta cheese (or cottage cheese), 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese, eggs, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, dried (or fresh) parsley, salt, and black pepper. Mix well until the ingredients are evenly incorporated and creamy.
04 -
Spread about 3/4 cup of meat sauce evenly over the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Layer 3 uncooked lasagna noodles over the sauce. Spoon and spread 1/3 of the cheese mixture evenly over the noodles, then top with 1/4 of the remaining meat sauce. Repeat these layers two more times—noodles, cheese mixture, then sauce. Finish with a final layer of noodles, cover with all the remaining sauce, then sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese. If your sauce is thick, pour 1/4 cup water along the edges of the pan to help cook the noodles.
05 -
Spray a sheet of aluminum foil with cooking spray and cover the baking dish with the foil, sprayed side down, to prevent the cheese from sticking. Bake in the preheated oven for 50 minutes. Then, remove the foil and bake uncovered for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese on top is melted and golden. For a crispier top, you can broil it for a couple of minutes at the end if you like.
06 -
Remove the lasagna from the oven and let it stand for 10 minutes before slicing. This resting period helps the layers set, making serving much easier and tidier.