Description
A straightforward recipe for a rich, layered pasta casserole featuring ground beef meat sauce, creamy ricotta cheese, and melted mozzarella.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 (24 ounce) jar marinara sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 12 lasagna noodles, cooked according to package directions
- 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat. Drain off any excess grease.
- Stir the marinara sauce, oregano, basil, and garlic powder into the skillet with the beef. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the ricotta cheese, egg, Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper until combined.
- Spread a thin layer of the meat sauce on the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Arrange four cooked lasagna noodles over the sauce layer.
- Spread half of the ricotta mixture evenly over the noodles.
- Sprinkle one-third of the mozzarella cheese over the ricotta layer.
- Spoon half of the remaining meat sauce over the mozzarella.
- Repeat the layers: four noodles, the rest of the ricotta mixture, one-third of the mozzarella, and the remaining meat sauce.
- Top with the final four noodles and the remaining mozzarella cheese.
- Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil.
- Bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 to 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Let the lasagna rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
- You can prepare this lasagna entirely ahead of time. Cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking. Add 10 minutes to the covered baking time if baking straight from the refrigerator.
- For a freezer-friendly meal, assemble the lasagna completely, cover tightly with plastic wrap and then foil, and freeze for up to three months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking as directed.
- Use cottage cheese instead of ricotta cheese for a slightly different texture.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 45 min
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 10
- Sodium: 750
- Fat: 25
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Unsaturated Fat: 13
- Trans Fat: 0.5
- Carbohydrates: 38
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 30
- Cholesterol: 85