The Best Homemade Lasagna Recipe {VIDEO}

A Classic Homemade Lasagna recipe should be in every recipe box. Homemade meat sauce with fresh herbs, tender pasta, and creamy cheese filling come together for a deep-dish dinner you just can’t beat. 

If you can’t get enough casserole dinner recipes, then you’ll want to check out some of our other favorites such as  Baked Spaghetti Pie, Cheesy Ravioli Bake, or our favorite Three Cheese Baked Mostaccioli. 

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Why We Love This Homemade Lasagna Recipe

One of the best ways to get dinner on the table in a hurry is to make a one-dish meal. Convenient and easy cleanup—without sacrificing taste or elegance. One of the favorites in our house is lasagna. It’s easy, you can make the sauce ahead of time for even quicker prep or make the full dish and freeze it for a homemade dinner on a busy night.

Lasagna has been a “specialty” of mine since middle school. We made it in home ec class and I made it at home for my family. My homemade lasagna was an instant hit and became a family favorite that was always made by me.

A few years ago I started tweaking that lasagna recipe until I came up with this recipe that my family gives two thumbs up. My picky husband says it’s the best lasagna I’ve ever made! 

I’ve always loved a good meaty, cheesy lasagna. It’s a dish that’s filling, flavorful, relatively easy to make, serves a crowd, and keeps well, making it a great choice for any gathering or gifting. Homemade lasagna is always worth sharing.

What is Lasagna?

Lasagna is considered an Italian dish that’s made of stacked layers of thin, flat pasta alternating with fillings. Our version of lasagna is very Americanized compared to the true lasagna in Italy. Italian lasagna is actually made with a meaty Bolognese sauce and creamy bechamel (white sauce) mingling between pasta layers.

Lasagna recipes have been around since the early thirteenth century. In its simplest form lasagna has just three components — thin flat noodles, sauce, and cheese.

Today, lasagna is made in many varieties from vegetable lasagna with cream sauces to a traditional sauce for cheese lasagna as well as beef lasagna even easy lasagna soup. A big part of the appeal of lasagna is the toasty cheese on top!

What’s In Homemade Lasagna

(full printable recipe at the end of this post)

For this recipe, you’ll need a 9×13 dish and this recipe! So, get out your shopping list because you won’t want to leave anything out!

• Salsiccia– This is basically ground Italian sausage. You can use Italian sausage or even seasoning ground pork if needed.
• Ground beef– In addition to the ground sausage, you’ll also be using ground beef. Be sure to grab a high-quality ground beef for this lasagna recipe. 
• Lasagna noodles– This recipe uses wavy noodles soaked in hot water. You will want to get regular lasagna noodles, not the no-boil variety. 
• Fresh Herbs and spices– To really bring out the flavor, you’ll need fresh oregano, rosemary, basil, and parsley stems. Don’t forget the garlic cloves, too!
• Olive oil– You will need olive oil to saute your fresh herbs. Extra virgin olive oil will give this lasagna the best flavor. 
• Tomatoes– You’ll use a can of San Marzano tomatoes (they are sweeter, less acidic tomatoes). You can find these in the canned food aisle. 
• Tomato sauce– Grab two 8-ounce cans of tomato sauce for this lasagna recipe. 
• Seasonings– You’ll need garlic salt, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and nutmeg. 
• Ricotta cheese– This is a classic Italian-inspired cheese. It gives the lasagna a creamy texture. 
• Egg– You may not think eggs belong in lasagna, but you will need 1 egg to hold your ricotta mixture together. 
• Cheese– This dish is layered with sliced mozzarella and grated parmesan cheese. 

Variations

• Instead of using a combination of Italian sausage and ground beef, use just one type of ground meat.
• You can use small curd cottage cheese in place of ricotta cheese. It will have few calories and a milder taste.
• Looking for a shortcut when making lasagna at home? use your favorite jarred pasta sauce
• Use fresh sliced mozzarella and grated parmesan cheese, instead of using packaged cheese. Fresh cheese is extra cream and worth the purchase!

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How to Make Easy Homemade Lasagna

Are you ready to make the best lasagna you’ve ever had? Follow the steps below for a dish the whole family will love!

1. Season and Cook the Meat: First, season and cook the meat in a large skillet (per the recipe below).
2. Make the sauce: To make the sauce, you’ll saute your fresh herbs in olive oil. Then, you’ll add garlic, crushed tomatoes, and tomato sauce to the skillet. Season the sauce with salt, pepper, and red pepper. Add the cooked meat and simmer for 30 minutes. 
3. Prep the noodles: Place your lasagna noodles in a large dish. Pour hot water over the noodles making sure they are completely covered. Let them soak for 30 minutes while the sauce simmers. 
4. Make Ricotta Mixture: Combine the ricotta cheese, egg, salt, and nutmeg. Mix well and refrigerate until ready to use. 
5. Preheat and Prep: Preheat your oven to 350° F. Grease a deep 9×13 lasagna pan with cooking spray.
6. Layer your lasagna: Arrange your lasagna layers in the pan starting with 1 cup of meat sauce in the bottom of the prepared baking dish, then noodles, ricotta mixture, and mozzarella and parmesan. Repeat layers ending with mozzarella on top.
7. Bake: Cover your lasagna loosely with foil and place it in the oven for 30 minutes. Then, remove the foil and bake for an additional 20 to 25 minutes or until the cheese is melted. 
8. Cool for 15-30 minutes before serving (this will keep it from becoming runny and help hold its shape). A stainless steel serrated server is perfect for slicing lasagna.

What To Serve With Lasagna

Serve the best homemade lasagna with Easy Pull-Apart Garlic Rolls and a Simple Italian Salad for the perfect meal

You can also add an appetizer and dessert if you’re serving guests or for a special occasion.

• Antipasto Skewers
• Blue Cheese Wedge Salad Crostini
• Creamy Whipped Feta with Pita
• Banana Pineapple Italian Ice
• Tiramisu Brownies
• Cheesecake Parfaits

How To Reheat Lasagna In The Oven

If you’re fortunate enough to have leftover lasagna, you’re in luck because it reheats wonderfully in the oven. We think it’s even better leftover…..follow these steps to reheat lasagna.

Refrigerated

1. Heat your oven to 350° F and place the leftover lasagna in an oven-safe dish and cover with aluminum foil.
2. Place the dish in the oven until heated through (about 30 minutes) until the sauce on the edges is bubbling.

Frozen

Frozen lasagna should thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then follow the steps listed above for reheating lasagna in the oven.

If you want to reheat lasagna straight from the freezer, you will need a little more time.

1. Heat your oven to 350° F and place the leftover lasagna in an oven-safe dish and cover with aluminum foil.
2. Place the dish in the oven until heated through (1-2 hours) until the sauce on the edges is bubbling and the cheese is melty. Ideally, insert an instant-read thermometer in the center of the lasagna, looking for a reading of 165° F

FAQs for Homemade Lasagna

Is Lasagna Better with Cottage Cheese Or Ricotta?

Ricotta and cottage cheese have a similar flavor profile making them interchangeable. Ricotta is creamier and easier to spread with a slightly sweeter taste, while cottage cheese is lumpy. You can certainly and use cottage cheese instead of ricotta, there’s little to no difference in the final taste. Nor do you need to adjust the amount. Note that ricotta does have more calories, so if you’re looking for a lighter option, you may want to go with cottage cheese.

How Many Layers Should Lasagna Have?

There is no set number of layers for lasagna, but it should have at least 3 layers. Most lasagnas have 3-4 layers, your pan is going to set your limitation. A really deep lasagna pan may hold 5-6 layers for a filling dish, but I don’t recommend going any higher –unless you’re trying to set a record for the most layers in a lasagna 🙂 

Does It Matter How You Layer Lasagna?

There’s no rule on how to layer lasagna, but it is recommended to start with a layer of sauce to prevent the noodles from sticking to the pan. From there add cheeses and top with meat sauce.  Continue to layer ending with a layer of cheese on top.

What Kind Of Pan Should I Use For Homemade Lasagna

A glass pan will distribute heat evenly but take longer to heat up.  While a metal pan will cook faster and give you crispy edges, an aluminum pan can give your lasagna a metallic taste. 

Lasagna is usually baked in a 9×13 pan (the deeper the better), with straight sides and handles.

I usually reach for my glass pyrex but a porcelain-coated cast iron pan is a great choice if you love those crispy edges.

Do I Have to Saute The Herbs?

You don’t have to use fresh herbs at all, but I feel it gives the sauce a subtle hint of herbal deliciousness. If you don’t want to saute the herbs, you can use 1 ½ teaspoon of Italian seasoning blend or ground oregano. 

Do I Need to Boil My Lasagna Noodles?

No! This recipe is using dry wavy lasagna noodles soaked in hot water. Because they are soaked in hot water, they will still cook well in the oven. There’s no need to boil them or to get no-boil noodles. 

Can I Make Homemade Lasagna Ahead?
Absolutely! Allow your meat sauce to cool completely (you run the chance of bacteria growth if you don’t), then you can assemble the lasagna, cover it with foil, and place it in the fridge for up to 3 days before baking it. However, make sure to bring it to room temperature before baking. 

Can I freeze lasagna? 
Yes! Homemade lasagna freezes beautifully. Sometimes I make a double or triple batch and freeze the extras. You will want to follow all of the instructions except cooking the lasagna. You will freeze the lasagna before it’s cooked to keep it fresh later. Once you are ready to eat your lasagna, remove it from the freezer and allow it to thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Cook it according to the directions below and enjoy. 

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Originally posted in April 2022. UPDATED May 2024. We spiffed up this post with more information. No changes were made to the recipe.