Homemade Lasagna Recipe

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Looking for a classic lasagna recipe? You’ve found it! This homemade lasagna will transform your family’s Italian night. We’ll give you hints and exact ingredients to use for the best lasagna recipe your family has ever had.

meaty lasagna in a baking pan

Matt is crazy for homemade lasagna (even lasagna soup!) and really never met one he didn’t like. Because I knew he loved it, in our early years of marriage I made it all the time. In fact, I made it so much that Braden ended up not liking lasagna. In order to keep dinnertime fuss-free, I got away from fixing lasagna as one of our regular recipes.

When I was requested to serve a lasagna dinner to Maddie and her friends before prom, I had about 3 days notice to find a tried and true lasagna recipe.

I quickly started researching and found the World’s Best Lasagna on Allrecipes.com. Sounds like the place to start, right? I scoured the reviews, taking copious amounts of notes on what people liked and didn’t like about the recipe. I gathered together what I thought would be my special version from my previous cooking knowledge and that is what I share with you today.

This lasagna was a hit that night of prom. Everyone loved it. And now I can officially say I have a lasagna recipe written down that to make over and over again. Even Braden agrees that it’s not that bad. ๐Ÿ˜Š

About this Homemade Lasagna Recipe:

  • Flavor: The flavor of this lasagna is like no other. The 5 cheeses, homemade sauce and combination of beef and sausage ensure that it tastes homemade and is delicious.
  • Texture: Lasagna is loaded with texture thanks to the meat and lasagna pasta. The 5 cheeses make it creamy.
  • Method: This makes a large pan of lasagna. Use a deep dish lasagna pan or a deep 9×13″ baking dish.

Key Lasagna Ingredients

There are a few key ingredients that I like to use in my lasagna:

  • Sweet Italian Sausage. The “sweet” in the Italian sausage really brings out the flavor in this lasagna. I’ve tried this recipe with traditional Italian sausage and we didn’t like it as much. I find sweet Italian sausage in a local grocery store in the fresh meat case.
  • Homemade Sauce. In my easy lasagna recipe I use jarred spaghetti sauce for my lasagna. There’s definitely a place for lazy day lasagna recipes, but when you want something really special, make from-scratch meat sauce. The key to this sauce is to make it a day in advance and allow it to cook together for about an hour and a half, or even allow it to simmer in the slow cooker for 4-6 hours. The fresh herbs, spices and tomatoes blend together beautifully if you just plan ahead and take a little time.
  • Fresh Basil and Fresh Parsley. I never used to buy fresh herbs, but when you really want to make an impression, grabbing a bunch of green herbs from your produce case can really add a fresh flavor. Use some kitchen scissors or herb scissors to snip the herbs and enjoy their aroma as you do so.
  • Whole Milk Ricotta Cheese. I’ll be honest. I’m not crazy about ricotta, but it is a must in traditional lasagna. This recipe calls for just 15 ounces of creamy ricotta cheese which allows for two thin layers. It blends right in with the other cheeses.
  • Nutmeg. That’s right. This is a hint I got from reviewers on Allrecipes. Don’t skip it. It’s a little secret ingredient to a great lasagna.
  • Whole Milk Mozzarella. Pick up a chunk of whole milk mozzarella and shred it at home with this handy rotary cheese shredder. This will give you the creamiest, cheesiest lasagna around.
  • Provolone, Romano and Parmesan Cheeses. Each of these Italian cheeses bring a unique flavor to this lasagna recipe. Using these three cheeses along with the ricotta and mozzarella make this a five cheese lasagna recipe. We’re crazy for cheese!
words best lasagna in a baking pan

What to Cook Lasagna In

Because there are so many layers in lasagna, I recommend a large casserole dish that is bigger than the traditional 9x 13-inch baking dish. I highly recommend the Cuisinart Classic Lasagna Pan.

Do I Have to Cook Lasagna Noodles?

I’ve tried this recipe three ways: boiling the noodles, not boiling the noodles, and soaking the noodles in hot water. My findings? If you like the noodles super soft, boil lasagna noodles in advance. It tasted very traditional to me. However…I’m ok with my noodles being a little bit al dente so would rather take the shortcut of not boiling the noodles.

A trick to no boil lasagna is to soak the noodles in hot water for 30 minutes. You can do this easily while you are preparing the sauce, shredding the cheese or getting the ingredients out to put the lasagna together. The hot water softens the noodles ever so slightly and they finish cooking while the lasagna is cooking.

And there’s no need to buy no boil noodles. Buy the more economical lasagna noodles and use our tips.

Here’s my own personal trick

If you put the lasagna together while the sauce is piping hot from simmering for several hours, the noodles will do that little bit of cooking just while the casserole sits, waiting to be baked. Sneaky, right?

And with that, I’ll give you my exact timeline for make ahead lasagna.

a piece of lasagna sitting on a plate

Make Ahead Lasagna Recipe

Here’s the timeline for how I make this lasagna.

  • Make the sauce. The day before I want to cook and serve the lasagna, I make the sauce.
  • While the sauce is cooking, mix together the cheeses and cook the noodles if you’d like.
  • Put the lasagna together. Allow the lasagna to sit for 30 minutes or so until the sauce cools, then cover the pan with plastic wrap and slip it into the fridge to sit overnight. If you cover with aluminum foil, the acid in the sauce may eat away at it as it sits. For that reason, I prefer plastic wrap.
  • Remove the lasagna from the refrigerator 45 minutes before baking, then bake as the recipe states.

I love preparing lasagna this way because it keeps the mess out of the kitchen the day I want to serve the lasagna and the flavors have time to meld together.

This also gives the noodles time to soften (as long as you put the lasagna together while the sauce is hot) and they’ll finish cooking during the baking.

It’s the perfect company casserole, really. No messy kitchen the day you need it clean for company!

How to Freeze Lasagna

After you assemble this lasagna recipe (after step #3 above), cover the lasagna with plastic wrap 2-3 times to seal well. Store in the freezer for up to 6 weeks.

Allow the frozen lasagna to thaw in the fridge at least 24 hours before baking. Also, pull it out of the fridge 1 hour before baking to take some of the chill off.

about tastes of lizzy t

Make it a meal.

Serve this lasagna with cheesy garlic bread and a simple salad or side of veggies. I recommend Italian green beans!

overhead view of homemade lasagna in a pan
overhead view of homemade lasagna in a pan

Homemade Lasagna Recipe

4.77 from 557 votes
If you're looking for the best homemade lasagna recipe, give this a try. Hints and exact ingredients to use for a delicious lasagna.
Servings 15
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 3 hours

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Ingredients
 

  • 1 pound sweet Italian sausage
  • 1 pound ground chuck 80/20
  • ยฝ cup diced onion
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 28 ounces crushed tomatoes
  • 12 ounces tomato paste
  • 15 ounces tomato sauce
  • ยผ cup water
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • ยฝ cup freshly chopped basil
  • ยฝ teaspoon fennel seeds
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ยผ teaspoon black pepper
  • 4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 12 lasagna noodles
  • 15 ounces whole milk ricotta cheese
  • 1 large egg
  • dash nutmeg
  • 1 pound whole milk mozzarella shredded
  • 9-10 slices provolone cheese
  • ยฝ cup freshly grated romano cheese
  • ยฝ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

Instructions
 

  • This makes a large pan of lasagna. I use a deep dish lasagna pan or a deep 9×13" baking dish.
  • In a large saucepan, cook the sausage, ground beef, onion and garlic until cooked through. Drain the fat. 1 pound sweet Italian sausage, 1 pound ground chuck, ยฝ cup diced onion, 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • Add the tomatoes, paste, sauce, water, sugar basil, fennel, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper and parsley. Stir well. 28 ounces crushed tomatoes, 12 ounces tomato paste, 15 ounces tomato sauce, ยผ cup water, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, ยฝ cup freshly chopped basil, ยฝ teaspoon fennel seeds, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon salt, ยผ teaspoon black pepper, 4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • Simmer, covered, over low heat for 1 ยฝ hours, stirring occasionally.*
  • Place the lasagna noodles in a pan of hot water and make certain they are completely covered. Allow them to sit for 30 minutes to soften, then drain the water. 12 lasagna noodles
  • In a small bowl, mix together the ricotta cheese, egg and nutmeg. 15 ounces whole milk ricotta cheese, 1 large egg, dash nutmeg
  • In a separate small bowl, mix together the Parmesan and Romano cheeses. ยฝ cup freshly grated romano cheese, ยฝ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

Let’s put together the lasagna!

  • Spread 1 ½ cups of meat sauce on the bottom of the lasagna pan. Place 4 lasagna noodles over the sauce.ย 
  • Spoon half of the ricotta cheese mixture over the noodles. Top with 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese. 1 pound whole milk mozzarella
  • Spread another 1 ½ cups of sauce over the mozzarella, then sprinkle with ⅓ cup of the Parmesan mixture.
  • Lay another 4 noodles over the cheese. Top with the remaining ricotta mixture.
  • Lay 9-10 slices of provolone cheese over the ricotta, then top with 1 ½ cups meat sauce. 9-10 slices provolone cheese
  • Sprinkle ⅓ cup Parmesan mixture over the sauce.
  • Top with 4 more noodles, the remaining sauce, 2 cups of mozzarella and the remaining Parmesan mixture.
  • Preheat the oven to 375ยบF. Bake immediately for 25 minutes (covered with foil**) and then an additional 30 minutes with the foil removed.
  • OR…cover the unbaked casserole and refrigerate to save baking until the next day. If you choose to do this, remove the lasagna from the refrigerator 45 minutes before baking, then bake the same as above.
  • Allow the lasagna to cool for 15 minutes before slicing.

Video

Notes

*You can also allow this to simmer on low in the slow cooker for 4-6 hours if you don’t have time to watch it on the stove.
**Spray the foil with cooking spray prior to covering the pan to prevent the cheese from sticking to the foil.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Vegetarian Lasagna: Skip the meat and add vegetables such as zucchini and spinach.
ย 
Refer to the article above for more tips and tricks.
The calories shown are based on the lasagna being cut into 15 pieces, with 1 serving being 1 piece of lasagna. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box are calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.**

Nutrition

Calories: 545kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Cholesterol: 112mg | Sodium: 1254mg | Potassium: 781mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1120IU | Vitamin C: 12.9mg | Calcium: 465mg | Iron: 3.4mg
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Calories 545
Keyword best lasagna, how to make lasagna, italian lasagna
About JulieJulie Clark

About Julie Clark

I'm Julie Clark, CEO and recipe developer of Tastes of Lizzy T. With my B.A. in Education and over 30 years of cooking and baking, I want to teach YOU the best of our family recipes.

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4.77 from 557 votes (370 ratings without comment)
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Shannon Monteiro
7 years ago

5 stars
I have found that using different kinds of cheeses each time I make it keeps it interesting and changes up the flavor.

Kim Henrichs
7 years ago

Use really good quality cheese!

Cindy Lowrance
7 years ago

5 stars
Thanks for the tip about soaking the noodles 30 minutes. I’m going to try that next time I make lasagne. The recipe looks great. I do like to use half cottage cheese and half ricotta. Then blend them up in the food processor for a smooth texture.

Beverly Hajder
7 years ago

I always add HOT Italian sausage with the hamburger…I will need to look for SWEET…Is that in bulk also?
I use my fresh herbs from garden, baSIL and parsley…I haven’t tried all those cheese’s efore only mozzarella with parmesan just on top…My grandson loves when I make lasagna and I let him bring home the leftovers(which isnt too much. lol) He is 17 years old 6’7″…plays football and track….I like to make ahead also, if I know in advance….so the flavors meld in refrigerator over night….I WILL BE TRYING YOUR RECIPE FOR SURE….cant wait to make it….THANKS

Sandy
7 years ago

The hint I have for your lasagna is to use sour cream instead of the ricotta cheese. I sure would love to win that lasagna pan. Try my suggestion though I think you will like it may be even better than the traditional ricotta cheese.

Shelli
7 years ago

Presentation is everything..this pan makes that possible !!!~

Sherry W
7 years ago

I love lasagna and I think it’s all about the cheese. My grandmother always made it with cottage cheese instead of ricotta but I have experimented through the years to find the perfect blend.

Karen
7 years ago

I make lasagna EVERY holiday! MY adult son says it is the best part of the holiday meal. I am looking forward to trying your recipe. Maybe I will make it and invite him and his wife over for a special family meal. A meal that is not a holiday for a surprise. Thanks.

Maureen
7 years ago

5 stars
This recipe looks grand. I have hosted a lasagna sampler dinner party and this will go nicely with my next menu.

Margaret
7 years ago

Lasagne is such a comfort food – what’s not to love? Your recipe looks great, will have to make it soon. And that pan – what a perfect dish to serve it in.

Cindy A.
7 years ago

Homemade sauce makes all the difference. I will definitely try sweet Italian sausage next time. Thank you so much for offering such a wonderful giveaway.

Judie
7 years ago

5 stars
I think cheese is the key…..the more the better!! Everyone loves lasagna. It’s a wonderful dish for entertaining.

Amy C.
7 years ago

I have several different lasagna recipes that make a rotation in my kitchen. It’s always a family favorite. My best tip is to use the no-boil noodles when you are short on time.

Janice Vranicar
7 years ago

My hint is to sneak veggies in where I can (I’ve pureed carrots and broccoli in with the Ricotta before), lots of fresh herbs from my garden and if I have a good crop of tomatoes (like I have this year) I make my own sauce/gravy. We love it thick and meaty and using some of the different cheeses, like you suggest, sounds heavenly. I’m making this for my parents this Thursday (I live out of town and I think I told you I will be using your Chicken Chile Verde recipe for an easy “taco bar” for my girls… Read more »

SHARON. ..LEAKEY
7 years ago

5 stars
Thanks for posting your recipe along with your readers helpful suggestions… !!