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Delicious easy lasagna recipe served on a plate with cheese and herbs.

Easy Lasagna

A comforting and forgiving lasagna with a creamy ricotta layer and savory meat-marinara sauce, perfect for weeknights and great for leftovers.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 450

Ingredients
  

Essentials
  • 15 oz ricotta cheese about 2 cups
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese for the ricotta layer
  • ¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon salt plus more for pasta water
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion finely diced
  • ¾ lb ground beef
  • ¾ lb ground turkey Italian sausage or ground chicken Italian sausage
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • ½ cup chicken broth or low-sodium vegetable broth
  • 40 oz marinara sauce jarred or homemade
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce optional, for a little kick
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 12 pieces lasagna noodles regular or no-boil
  • 2.5 cups shredded mozzarella cheese for the top and between layers
Optional add-ons
  • 3-4 cups fresh spinach roughly chopped
  • 8 oz mushrooms sliced and sautéed with the onion
  • 1 small zucchini thinly sliced
  • fresh basil leaves for garnish
  • red pepper flakes for extra heat
  • a handful of shredded provolone or Italian blend cheese mixed with the mozzarella for extra depth

Method
 

Prep Work
  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with a little olive oil or nonstick spray.
  2. Grate your Parmesan and shred any block mozzarella you’re using.
  3. In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta, egg, 2 cups shredded mozzarella, grated Parmesan, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Stir until smooth and set aside in the fridge.
  4. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil if using regular noodles. If using no-boil noodles, skip to the assembly section.
Make the Meat Sauce
  1. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
  2. Add the finely diced yellow onion and sauté until soft and translucent, about 4-5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another 30-45 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Add the ground beef and ground turkey Italian sausage. Break the meat up and cook until no longer pink, about 6-8 minutes. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
  4. Pour in chicken broth to deglaze the pan, scraping any browned bits from the bottom. Stir in marinara sauce, tomato paste, hot sauce (optional), and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to a gentle simmer and let it cook for 8-12 minutes.
Preheat Oven and Cook the Lasagna Noodles
  1. If using regular noodles, cook them in boiling salted water for about 8-10 minutes until just al dente. Drain and lay them flat to prevent sticking.
  2. If using no-boil noodles, thin the sauce slightly with hot water or broth to help the noodles hydrate while baking.
Assemble
  1. Spoon a thin layer (about 1 to 1 1/2 cups) of meat sauce into the greased pan.
  2. Lay 3-4 lasagna noodles across the sauce.
  3. Dollop about one-third of the ricotta mixture over the noodles and gently spread it.
  4. Spoon roughly one-third of the meat sauce over the ricotta layer.
  5. Add about 1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella across the sauce.
  6. Repeat the layers two more times finishing with noodles topped with remaining meat sauce and shredded mozzarella.
  7. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes covered.
Bake
  1. Remove the foil and bake an additional 10–15 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
  2. Let the lasagna rest for at least 15–20 minutes before slicing.

Notes

You can assemble this lasagna up to 24 hours in advance. For freezing, assemble in a foil pan and freeze for up to 3 months.