Classic Homemade Lasagna is made with layers of tender pasta, hearty meat sauce, creamy ricotta filling, and plenty of melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.

From the recipe collection of Tara Ippolito

There’s just nothing better than a big, bubbling pan of homemade lasagna. This is one of those classic comfort food dinners that everyone gets excited to see hit the table.

This recipe keeps things traditional with layers of pasta, a simple meat sauce, creamy ricotta filling, and lots of mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. It’s hearty, cheesy, comforting, and perfect for Sunday dinner, holidays, or anytime you’re feeding a crowd.

Why You’ll Love It

Classic comfort food: This is the traditional cheesy, saucy lasagna everyone knows and loves.
Great for feeding a crowd: One big pan goes a long way and makes a fantastic family dinner.
Easy to prepare: There aren’t any complicated ingredients or techniques involved.
Perfect for making ahead: Assemble the lasagna in advance and bake it when you’re ready to eat.

Ingredients

Here’s everything you need to make this delicious meal. You can find the measurements and instructions on the recipe card below.

Ground beef: Creates the hearty base for the meat sauce.
Onion: Adds flavor and a little sweetness to the beef.
Garlic: Gives the sauce plenty of savory flavor.
Marinara sauce: Keeps the meat sauce simple, rich, and tomatoey.
Ricotta cheese: Creates the creamy cheese layer.
Egg: Helps bind the ricotta mixture together.
Mozzarella cheese: Adds that classic gooey, cheesy lasagna texture.
Parmesan cheese: Adds a salty, nutty flavor to the cheese layers.
Oregano: Seasons the ricotta mixture and adds classic Italian flavor.
Lasagna noodles: Cook them just until al dente so they hold up nicely while the lasagna bakes.
Parsley: Adds a fresh pop of color and flavor to the finished lasagna.
Cooking spray: For greasing the baking dish.

How to Make It

Preheat the oven to 375°. In a large skillet, cook the ground beef and onion together until the beef is browned and the onion is soft. Drain any excess grease if necessary. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute. Stir in the marinara sauce and let everything simmer together for about 5 minutes. Remove the meat sauce from the heat and set it aside.

ground beef and onion cooked in marinara sauce

In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, egg, shredded mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, and oregano until everything is evenly incorporated. Grease a 9×13" baking dish and spread a thin layer of the meat sauce over the bottom. Arrange a layer of cooked lasagna noodles over the sauce. Spread ⅓ of the ricotta mixture evenly over the noodles, followed by more meat sauce, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese.

lasagna noodles at the bottom of the baking dish and topped with ricotta cheese mixture and sauce

Continue repeating the layers until all of the ingredients have been used, finishing with the remaining meat sauce, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese on top. Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake on the center rack for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for another 25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Remove the lasagna from the oven, sprinkle with fresh parsley, and let it rest for at least 15 minutes before slicing and serving.

Pro Tips

Cook the lasagna noodles only until al dente. They’ll continue cooking in the oven and you don’t want them to become too soft.
Spread a little sauce on the bottom of the baking dish before adding the noodles to help prevent sticking.
Cover the lasagna tightly during the first part of baking so it stays moist and cooks evenly.
Don’t skip the 15-minute resting time. This is what helps those beautiful layers stay together when you cut into the lasagna.
If you’re worried about the cheese sticking to the foil, lightly spray the underside of the foil with cooking spray before covering the dish.
Place the baking dish on a sheet pan if it’s filled close to the top to catch any bubbling sauce or cheese.

Variations

Add Italian sausage: Replace some of the ground beef with mild or hot Italian sausage for even more flavor.

Make it extra cheesy: Add additional mozzarella between the layers or use a blend of Italian cheeses.

Add vegetables: Sautéed spinach, mushrooms, or zucchini can be added to the layers.

Make it spicy: Add crushed red pepper flakes to the meat sauce for a little heat.

What to Serve With This

This lasagna is hearty enough to be the star of the meal, so simple sides work best. Serve it with garlic bread or a simple salad.

Roasted broccoli, asparagus, or green beans would also be great if you want to add a vegetable to the meal.

Can This Lasagna Be Made Ahead Of Time?

Yes. Assemble the lasagna, cover it tightly, and keep it refrigerated until you’re ready to bake. You may need to add a little extra baking time if it goes into the oven cold.

Storage & Reheating

Store leftover lasagna in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Individual slices can be reheated in the microwave until warmed through. For larger portions, cover the lasagna with foil and reheat it in the oven until hot in the center.

Lasagna also freezes beautifully. Wrap individual portions tightly or freeze the remaining lasagna in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.

Other Easy Baked Pasta Recipes

Theres something so comforting about a hearty dinner like this. I've rounded up all my Best Baked Pasta Recipes so you can find them easily in one place. I highly recommend my Baked Monterey Chicken Spaghetti. Its one of my personal favorites.

ALL MY BEST BAKED PASTA RECIPES