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Comforting Lasagna Recipe Easy Homemade Lasagna for Cozy Family Dinners

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A quick and easy homemade lasagna recipe that delivers rich tomato sauce, creamy ricotta, and gooey mozzarella for a perfect cozy family dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef (or ground turkey for a leaner option)
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 15 ounces ricotta cheese
  • 1 cup small-curd cottage cheese
  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 9 no-boil lasagna noodles
  • 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • Fresh basil leaves for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Meat Sauce (about 20 minutes): Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon (about 7-10 minutes). Drain excess fat if necessary. Add chopped onion and garlic; sauté until softened and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Simmer gently for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until thick and rich.
  2. Mix the Cheese Filling (5 minutes): In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta, cottage cheese, beaten egg, Parmesan, parsley, salt, and pepper. Stir gently until well blended but do not overmix to keep texture light and creamy.
  3. Assemble the Lasagna (10 minutes): Preheat oven to 375°F. Spread a thin layer (about 1 cup) of meat sauce on the bottom of the baking dish. Lay 3 no-boil noodles evenly over the sauce. Spread one-third of the cheese mixture over the noodles, then sprinkle with 1 cup shredded mozzarella. Repeat layering two more times: sauce, noodles, cheese mixture, mozzarella. Finish with a final layer of meat sauce topped with remaining mozzarella cheese.
  4. Bake (40-45 minutes): Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake uncovered for an additional 15-20 minutes until cheese is melted, bubbly, and edges start to brown.
  5. Rest Before Serving (10 minutes): Let lasagna cool for about 10 minutes before slicing to help layers set. Garnish with fresh basil leaves if desired.

Notes

Use gluten-free lasagna noodles for a gluten-free version or swap ricotta with dairy-free cream cheese for a vegan twist. Drain cooked meat to avoid oily sauce. Fold cheese mixture gently to keep it light. No-boil noodles save time and absorb sauce moisture well. Let lasagna rest before slicing for neat pieces. If top browns too quickly, tent with foil.

Nutrition

Keywords: lasagna, easy lasagna, homemade lasagna, comfort food, family dinner, no-boil noodles, ricotta, mozzarella, tomato sauce

Find it online: https://blixfood.com/comforting-lasagna-recipe-easy-homemade-lasagna-for-cozy-family-dinners/