This dish never fails to wow my dinner party guests.
This Oven-Baked Beef and Cheese Lasagna is the ultimate family comfort meal. Simmering the sauce with aromatic herbs and layering it with a rich ricotta-egg mixture creates the perfect balance of hearty meat and gooey, melted cheese—classic Italian-American comfort at its finest.
Oven-Baked Beef and Cheese Lasagna
Ingredients
For the Meat Sauce
| INGREDIENT | AMOUNT |
|---|---|
| Ground beef | 1 lb |
| Onion, chopped | 1 |
| Garlic, minced | 2 cloves |
| Crushed tomatoes | 1 can (28 oz) |
| Tomato paste | 2 tablespoons |
| Dried basil | 1 teaspoon |
| Dried oregano | 1 teaspoon |
| Salt and pepper | To taste |
For the Layers
| INGREDIENT | AMOUNT |
|---|---|
| Lasagna noodles | 9 |
| Ricotta cheese | 15 oz |
| Egg | 1 |
| Mozzarella cheese, shredded | 3 cups |
| Parmesan cheese, grated | 1 cup |
Directions
Step 1: Prepare the Meat Sauce
Preheat your oven to 375°F. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef with the chopped onion and garlic until the meat is browned. Drain any excess fat. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 15 minutes.
Step 2: Cook Noodles & Mix Ricotta
Boil the lasagna noodles according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside. In a small bowl, whisk together the ricotta cheese and egg until smooth.
Step 3: Assemble the Lasagna
- Base: Spread a thin layer of meat sauce in a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- First Layer: Lay 3 noodles over the sauce. Spread half of the ricotta mixture on top, then sprinkle with 1/3 of the mozzarella and 1/3 of the Parmesan.
- Second Layer: Add 3 more noodles, the remaining ricotta, another 1/3 of the mozzarella, and 1/3 of the Parmesan.
- Top Layer: Place the final 3 noodles, cover with the remaining meat sauce, and top with the last of the mozzarella and Parmesan.
Step 4: Bake
Cover the dish with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 25 minutes, until the cheese is golden and bubbly.
Step 5: Rest
Let the lasagna rest for 10 minutes before slicing. This helps the layers hold together when served.
