Italian Homemade Lasagna
Layers of tender pasta, rich meat sauce, and béchamel for a classic Italian comfort dish. This italian-inspired quick meals ready in about 75 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 600 calories and feeds 6, 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 medium onion
- 3 garlic cloves
- 2 cups tomato sauce
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Boil lasagna noodles in salted water until al dente (8-10 minutes), then drain and set aside.
- Step 2: In a skillet, heat olive oil, then cook onion and garlic until softened (5 minutes). Add beef, sausage, salt, and pepper, breaking into crumbles. Cook until browned (8-10 minutes), then stir in tomato sauce and tomato paste.
- Step 3: For béchamel, melt butter in a saucepan, whisk in flour, then gradually add milk. Cook until thickened (5 minutes). Stir in Parmesan and egg. Layer noodles, meat sauce, and béchamel in a 9x13-inch dish, repeating until all ingredients are used. Top with remaining Parmesan and bake 25-30 minutes until bubbly.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Italian Homemade Lasagna take to make?
Total time is about 75 minutes (40 min prep + 35 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 Italian 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 Italian 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 Italian Homemade Lasagna for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 6 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 6). 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 Italian Homemade Lasagna?
Italian quick meals 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
- ★★★★☆
Very good for a 35-minute recipe. Would bump up the spice level though.
- ★☆☆☆☆
Followed exactly and it was underwhelming. Maybe my expectations were too high.
