classic, cheesy homemade lasagna with rich meat sauce and creamy layers. Here’s a full, from-scratch recipe just like the picture 👇
🍝 Classic Beef Lasagna
📝 Ingredients
🔴 Meat Sauce
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1 lb ground beef
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½ lb Italian sausage (optional but recommended)
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1 small onion, diced
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3 cloves garlic, minced
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1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
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1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
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2 tbsp tomato paste
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1 tsp sugar (optional)
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1 tsp salt
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½ tsp black pepper
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1 tsp Italian seasoning
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½ tsp dried basil
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½ tsp dried oregano
🧀 Cheese Filling
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15 oz ricotta cheese
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1 large egg
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½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
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2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (or 1 tsp dried)
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½ tsp salt
🧄 Layers
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9–12 lasagna noodles (regular or oven-ready)
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3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
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Extra Parmesan for topping
👩🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Make the Meat Sauce
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In a large skillet, cook beef and sausage over medium heat until browned. Drain excess fat.
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Add onion and cook 3–4 minutes.
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Stir in garlic and cook 30 seconds.
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Add crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, and seasonings.
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Simmer uncovered for 20–30 minutes until thickened.
2️⃣ Prepare Cheese Mixture
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In a bowl, mix ricotta, egg, Parmesan, parsley, and salt until smooth.
3️⃣ Cook Noodles
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If using regular noodles, boil according to package instructions. Drain and lay flat.
4️⃣ Assemble Lasagna (9×13 pan)
Layer in this order:
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Thin layer of meat sauce
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Noodles
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Ricotta mixture
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Meat sauce
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Mozzarella
Repeat layers 3 times.
Finish with sauce + mozzarella + sprinkle of Parmesan on top.
5️⃣ Bake
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Cover with foil (spray underside with oil so cheese doesn’t stick).
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Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 25 minutes.
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Remove foil and bake another 20–25 minutes until bubbly and golden.
6️⃣ Rest
Let sit 15–20 minutes before slicing (important for clean layers!).
🔥 Pro Tips
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Add ½ cup cottage cheese for extra creaminess.
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Mix a little mozzarella into the ricotta layer for stretchier slices.
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For extra flavor, add a splash of red wine to the meat sauce while simmering.
If you’d like, I can also give you:
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🥬 A spinach & veggie version
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🐔 A chicken Alfredo lasagna
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🧄 Or a garlic bread recipe to serve with it 😋