Best Homemade Lasagna
Layers of tender pasta, rich meat sauce, and melted cheese create a comforting, indulgent lasagna that's the best way to enjoy Italian comfort food. This italian-inspired pasta ready in about 70 minutes pairs lasagna noodles, ground beef, Italian sausage for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 750 calories and feeds 8, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 12 oz lasagna noodles
- 1 lb ground beef
- 8 oz Italian sausage
- 1 (diced) onion
- 3 cloves (minced) garlic
- 2 cups tomato sauce
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 cup (grated) Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1 egg
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup (shredded) mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup (chopped) fresh basil
- to taste black pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Boil lasagna noodles in salted water until al dente, then drain.
- Step 2: In a skillet, cook beef, sausage, onion, and garlic over medium heat for 10 minutes until browned and fragrant. Add tomato sauce, paste, oregano, basil, and black pepper; simmer for 10 minutes.
- Step 3: In a bowl, mix Parmesan, milk, egg, ricotta, and 1/4 cup chopped basil until smooth. Set aside.
- Step 4: In a 9x13-inch baking dish, layer 1/3 noodles, 1/3 meat sauce, 1/3 ricotta mixture, and 1/3 mozzarella. Repeat layers, finishing with a top layer of noodles and sauce.
- Step 5: Bake for 25-30 minutes until bubbly and golden. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Best Homemade Lasagna take to make?
Total time is about 70 minutes (30 min prep + 40 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Best Homemade Lasagna?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep lasagna noodles from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Best Homemade Lasagna?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Best Homemade Lasagna for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 8 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 8). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Best Homemade Lasagna?
Italian pasta like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
Simple and delicious.
- ★★★★☆
Enjoyable meal. Instructions could be a touch more detailed on the timing.
- ★★★★☆
Very good for a 40-minute recipe. Would bump up the spice level though.
