This easy lasagna recipe is my family's favorite comfort foods! (2024)

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on January 1, 202439 comments »

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This Easy LasagnaRecipe is one of my family’s favorite comfort foods! It is packed with flavor, but it’s so simple that I don’t mind making it at least once a month! Lasagna noodles are layered with meat, marinara, and three types of cheese for the ultimate Italian meal. Serve it alongside a simple Italian salad and garlic bread for a cozy dinner that’s perfect this time of the year!

This easy lasagna recipe is my family's favorite comfort foods! (1)

This easy lasagna recipe turned out amazing!!! It was super tasty and I love how easily it came together.
— Jocelyn

I crave cheesy pasta-based recipes during the winter season because they’re so comforting and taste SO good. This easy lasagna recipe is cozy, flavorful and can be a make-ahead meal. It’s absolutely perfect for a special dinner party or it’s something you can easily prep for a weeknight after work.

You may be thinking that homemade lasagna is too complicated with all of the layering and such. But in this recipe we’re using no-boil noodles and a jar of store-bought marinara and it’s sooooooo easy. Having simple dinner recipes, like this one, that I can make during the week and that reheat well to make a few meals is a complete game changer. This is the only lasagna recipe you’ll ever need! Let’s cook it up and I’ll show you just how easy it is!

Why you’ll love this recipe

Easy. The methods are super simple and the ingredients are basic. Nothing too complicated with this recipe!
Everyone loves it. Adults, kids, and even picky eaters enjoy this dish. It will become a family favorite for sure!
Versatile. There are plenty of ways to make this recipe right for any dietary preferences. See the list of ingredients and substitutions below.
Delicious.Once you try this flavorful recipe, you’ll find yourself making it on a regular basis. It’s just that good!

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Ingredients needed

You’re going to fall in LOVE with this easy lasagna recipe! It requires simple, easy-to-find ingredients and comes together with very little effort. Here’s a quick rundown of what you’ll need:

Ground meat. Werecommend using 90% lean ground beef. It has plenty of flavor, but is not overly greasy. Ground turkey will also work well. For best results,use the 94% lean ground turkey. 99% lean will not be as flavorful or moist.
Cheese. The cheese filling between the noodles is a mix of mozzarella,ricotta and parmesan. Mozzarella gets nice and melty, ricotta is rich and creamy and parmesan complements the other two with its sharpness. The flavor combo is wonderful!
Parsley. Fresh parsley adds freshness and flavor to the dish!
Egg. One egg binds the three cheeses together and helps them not to separate into the other layers while baking.
Marinara sauce. We highly recommendRao’s® marinara sauce. This marinara has a deep, intense flavor, tastes homemade, and is thick and hearty. A good marinara sauce makes the biggest difference in this recipe. By using Rao’s, we greatly cut down on ingredients required, because it has so many additions included (olive oil, onions, garlic, fresh basil, pepper, oregano, etc.). Whatever marinara you choose, make sure it has plenty of flavor and you love it.
Water. Added to the sauce to help cook the noodles during baking, so you don’t have to cook them beforehand. This will save you 15 to 20 minutes of prep time.
Noodles. No-boil lasagna noodles work great! They cut out an extra step in prep and they taste just like regular lasagna noodles. You can also substitute gluten-free lasagna noodles, if needed.

How to make this recipe

Just a few steps of prepping ingredients and then layering, and you’re well on your way to the most delicious lasagna!

This could not be easier and it’s super quick to put it all together. Grab a skillet to brown the meat, a bowl to mix up the cheese and egg and a 9×13″ baking dish!

For the full, printable recipe, reference the recipe card at the bottom of the page.

Brown meat. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the meat.
Prepare the cheese filling. While the meat is cooking, mix the cheeses, parsley and egg in a medium bowl. Set aside.
Make the meat sauce. Once the meat is cooked, drain it and add it back to the skillet with a jar of marinara;stir to combine. Add 1 cup water to empty sauce jar; cover with lid and shake well. Pour into meat mixture; stir until blended.

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Layer the ingredients

What is the best order to layer lasagna?

Now that the meat sauce and cheese filling are prepped and ready, it’s time to for the layering.

First, spread about a cup of the meat sauce onto the bottom of your 9×13-inch casserole dish.
Next, top with 3 lasagna noodles, 1/3 of the ricotta cheese mixture and 1 cup meat sauce. Repeat the layers twice.
End with the layer of noodles, meat sauce, ricotta cheese mixture, remaining mozzarella cheese and Parmesan.
Cover with foil that has been sprayed with cooking spray.
Bake for 1 hour or until heated through, removing foil after 45 minutes. Let lasagna stand at least 15 minutes before cutting to serve. This sitting time will keep the lasagna from being too watery and will help it keep its shape when cut. Allow it to sit for 30 minutes for a cleaner slice. Sprinkle with fresh parsley or basil, if you’d like.

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Expert tips

Make ahead. You can make the lasagna in advance and bake it when you are ready to serve it. The unbaked lasagna will stay fresh in the refrigerator for 24 hours. You may have to add about 10-15 minutes covered cooking time to allow for starting with a cold dish.
Freshly grated cheese. If you have the time, try grating your cheese for this recipe. Pre-shredded cheese usually contains stabilizers and anti-caking agents and won’t melt as well.
Room temp ricotta. It’s way easier to stir ricotta with the other cheeses if it’s at room temperature. We recommend letting the container of ricotta and the egg sit out for about 30 minutes before prepping this meal to come to room temp.
Flavorings. You can add two minced garlic cloves to the ground beef mixture as it’s browning, if you’d like extra garlic flavor. Taste before adding salt and pepper to this classic lasagna recipe, we usually don’t need to add any.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between lasagna and baked ziti?

The flavors are very similar, but lasagna noodles are long and flat, while ziti noodles are small tubes. And instead of carefully layering lasagna noodles, ziti layers can be heaped in the baking pan, which takes less time to assemble. Both bake in a casserole dish until golden with melty cheese.

Is lasagna better with ricotta or cottage cheese?

We like lasagna both ways! This easy lasagna recipe made with ricotta is pretty classic, and the typical way lasagna is usually made. However, to lighten things up like in our healthy lasagna recipe, we use cottage cheese and it’s actually so delicious!

Should I cover the lasagna while it’s baking?

This dish gets covered with tin foil for 45 minutes while baking. It will then bake for 15 minutes without the foil to allow the cheese to get melty and the top to get nice and golden.

How long to bake lasagna at 350?

This easy pasta recipe needs to bake for 1 hour at 350ºF. Be sure to wait about 15 to 30 minutes before serving after it comes out of the oven, to avoid the sauce being overly runny.

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Serving suggestions

Garnish with a couple tablespoons of freshly chopped basil or parsley, and serve with a buttery slice of garlic bread. We also love to pair this with our favorite Italian salad or a caesar salad. You could also make a simple salad with romaine lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers and croutons topped with a little olive oil and squeeze of lemon.

Variations

This best lasagna recipe is so easy and packed with flavor, but feel free to change it up and make it your own. Here’s some options:

Vegetables.Add in your favorite veggies. Chopped mushrooms or onion would be great in the meat sauce. You could also add a thawed10-ounce package of frozen chopped spinach to the cheese mixture. Be sure to squeeze out as much waterfrom the spinach as you can.
Meat.Try using Italian sausage instead of ground beef or turkey in the sauce.
Sauce.For a white sauce lasagna, replace the marinara with a creamy Alfredo sauce.
Cheese.You can mix the mozzarella with other cheeses that melt well, such as fontina or provolone.

Storing and freezing

Storing leftovers.Place any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridgefor up to 5 days
Freezing before baking. Make the recipe in advance by preparing it according to the instructions in the recipe card. However, instead of baking it, cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap and make sure that it sticks to the cheese on the top layer. Then, add a layer of aluminum foil over the plastic wrap, and freeze for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy, let the lasagna thaw in the refrigerator for 24 hours. Be sure to take the plastic wrap off, and bake according to the instructions in the recipe card. You may need to add an extra 10-15 minutes to the covered cook time, for it to completely cook through.
Freezing after baking. Sometimes when I’m making this, I actually make two pans, and save one for another day. After the baked lasagna has cooled completely to room temperature, either divide it into several portions and pack it in freezer safe containers, or freeze the whole pan. If you’re freezing the whole pan, cover with the plastic wrap and then the foil. It will keep well in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator for 24 hours. Take the plastic wrap off and bake, covered with foil only, for about 30 minutes. You can also heat leftovers in the microwave.

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If you want major comfort and flavor, you’ve got to add this delicious easy lasagna recipe to your meal rotation. A classic lasagna dinner is a MUST make winter meal that will warm you from the inside out.

More fav Italian recipes

Baked Chicken Parmesan
Easy Healthy Lasagna
Baked Ziti
Grandma’s Spaghetti and Meatballs
Italian Sausage Pasta
Crockpot Lasagna
Lasagna Rollups

If you try this recipe, let me know! Leave a comment and if your family loves it as much as mine does, be sure to giveit a five star ⭐️ rating! Also, tag @kimscravings on Instagramwith a picture of your creation. Be sure to subscribe to our mailing list to receive more healthy delicious recipes straight to your inbox.

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Easy Lasagna Recipe

Yield: 12 servings

Prep Time: 20 minutes mins

Cook Time: 1 hour hr

Total Time: 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins

An easy lasagna recipe that's packed with flavor! Lasagna noodles are layered with meat, spaghetti sauce, and three types of cheese for the ultimate Italian meal. Serve it alongside a simple salad and garlic bread for a cozy dinner that’s perfect this time of the year!

Author: Kim

Ingredients

1 pound lean ground beef or turkey
2 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese,
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley + more for garnish, if desired
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 (26 ounce) jar marinara sauce
1 cup water*
12 lasagna noodles, uncooked

Instructions

Heat oven to 350°F and prepare a 9×13" baking dish with cooking spray; set aside.
Brown meat in large skillet on medium-high heat. Meanwhile, in a large bowl mix 1-1/4 cups mozzarella, ricotta, 1/4 cup Parmesan, parsley and egg until blended. Set aside.
Drain meat; return to skillet. Add marinara sauce in with meat and stir to combine. Add 1 cup water to empty sauce jar; cover with lid and shake well. Pour into meat mixture; stir until blended.
Spread 1 cup meat sauce onto bottom of baking dish; top with layers of 3 lasagna noodles, 1/3 of the ricotta cheese mixture and 1 cup meat sauce. Repeat layers twice. Top with remaining noodles, meat sauce, ricotta cheese mixture, remaining mozzarella cheese and Parmesan. Cover with foil that has been sprayed with cooking spray.
Bake 1 hour or until heated through, removing foil after 45 min. Let stand 15 to 30 minutes before cutting to serve. Garnish with fresh parsley and enjoy!

Notes

*Adding water to the sauce helps cook the traditional noodles during baking, so you don’t have to cook them beforehand. This saves you 15 to 20 minutes of prep time.

**See post for details on storage and freezing.

Photos by Sasha atEat Love Eats

Recipe fromKraft

Author: Kim

Course: Main

Cuisine: Italian

Serving: 1serving, Calories: 315kcal, Carbohydrates: 26g, Protein: 24g, Fat: 12g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Cholesterol: 74mg, Sodium: 593mg, Potassium: 471mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 697IU, Vitamin C: 6mg, Calcium: 323mg, Iron: 2mg

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