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A serving of savory beef lasagna with melted cheese and sauce

Beef Lasagna

This classic beef lasagna recipe is a comforting and hearty dish, perfect for feeding a crowd. Layers of pasta, rich meat sauce, and creamy cheese make it an irresistible meal.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 450
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Meat Sauce
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 28 oz crushed tomatoes
  • 6 oz tomato paste
  • 0.5 cup water
  • 2 tsp sugar
  • 1.5 tsp dried basil
  • 0.5 tsp fennel seeds
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper
Cheese Mixture
  • 15 oz ricotta cheese
  • 1 egg
  • 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese grated
  • 0.5 cup parsley fresh, chopped
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper
Other
  • 12 lasagna noodles oven-ready
  • 4 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
Toppings
  • 4 tbsp Parmesan cheese grated
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
Additional Ingredients
  • 1 tbsp olive oil

Equipment

  • large skillet
  • medium bowl
  • 9x13 inch baking dish
  • aluminum foil

Method
 

Prepare Meat Sauce
  1. In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat for 5-7 minutes; drain any excess fat and set aside.
  2. Add olive oil to the same skillet, then sauté the chopped onion until softened, about 5 minutes, and add minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.
  3. Return the beef to the skillet, then stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, water, sugar, basil, fennel seeds, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
  4. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and let it cook for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
Prepare Cheese Mixture
  1. While the sauce is simmering, combine ricotta cheese, egg, grated Parmesan cheese, fresh parsley, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl.
  2. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well combined and the mixture is smooth.
Assemble Lasagna
  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
  2. Spread about 1 cup of meat sauce on the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
  3. Arrange a single layer of lasagna noodles over the sauce, breaking them if necessary to fit.
  4. Evenly spread half of the ricotta cheese mixture over the noodles, then top with a layer of shredded mozzarella cheese.
  5. Spoon another layer of meat sauce over the mozzarella, then repeat the noodle, ricotta, and mozzarella layers.
  6. Place the final layer of noodles on top, cover with the remaining meat sauce, and sprinkle generously with the remaining mozzarella cheese.
Bake and Serve
  1. Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes.
  2. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and lightly browned.
  3. Let the lasagna rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving; this helps it set, then garnish with grated Parmesan and fresh parsley.

Notes

For best results, prepare the meat sauce a day in advance to allow the flavors to deepen. If using regular lasagna noodles, boil them according to package directions before assembling. You can also add extra vegetables like bell peppers or mushrooms to the meat sauce for added flavor and nutrients. This lasagna freezes well; simply wrap individual portions tightly in plastic wrap and foil, then reheat in the oven or microwave.