Baked Lasagna

Homemade Lasagna, and a family favorite!

photo from Pinterest

Homemade lasagna is one of those classic Italian dishes that looks like you spent a lot of time preparing. Well, I've got a secret to share...it's so easy to make! LOL!

With that said, the measurements are a guideline and if you like more or less of an ingredient you can easily change the amounts to your own tastes. 

If you want to use your favorite jarred tomato sauce, go for it! If you want to make your sauce from scratch, do it! And, if you want to lighten it up with cottage cheese or a béchamel, that's fine too. It's one of those recipes that you can easily make your own and please your family's tastes!

This is my family's recipe for making this cozy, warm and filling lasagna. I hope you'll  give it a try, because it's always a hit! This recipe will make a large, deep 9x13" pan.

Ingredients:

Sauce:

1 1/2 lbs. ground beef

1/2 lb. bulk Italian sausage (opt.)

1/2 onion, diced

1-2 tsp. minced garlic

1/2 tsp. basil

salt & pepper to taste

2 (28 oz.) cans crushed tomatoes

1 (15 oz.) can tomato sauce

Brown ground beef with onions, garlic until there is no pink in the meat; salt and pepper to taste.  Drain off extra grease, then add the crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes. (Your house is going to smell soooo good! )

Cheese Filling:

32 oz. Whole milk Ricotta cheese 

2 large eggs, beaten

3/4 tsp. salt (you can add more salt and pepper to taste)

1/4 tsp. black pepper

1 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley OR 1-2 tsp. dried parsley

3/4-1 cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese

1 lb. shredded Mozzarella cheese (save for the layers)

1-2 boxes of lasagna noodles (I love the "oven-ready" ones)

Instructions:

In a large bowl, mix Ricotta cheese, eggs, salt, pepper, parsley, and Parmesan cheese. DO NOT add the mozzarella to the mixture.

Preheat oven to 350'F.

Spread about 2 cups of meat sauce into an ungreased 13x9" baking dish. Cover with noodles, then 1/3 of ricotta cheese mixture.  Sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella cheese and 2 Tbsp. Parmesan. 

Repeat the layers twice more with layering sauce, cheese mixture, mozzarella and Parmesan. Top with more lasagna noodles, sauce and sprinkle with Parmesan.

Bake at 350'F., covered for 25 minutes, then uncover and bake 25 minutes longer or until bubbly.  Let stand 15 minutes before serving. If desired, top with more Parmesan and a sprinkle of parsley.

A Tip from Grammy:

-If using the Oven-Ready noodles, let the meat sauce cool down before spreading. Otherwise the noodles curl up and it's difficult to spread the layers. (speaking from experience...LOL!)

Be encouraged!

"The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor." 

-Proverbs 15:33