Easy Beef and Ricotta Lasagna
Create a delicious dinner that the whole family will love with this easy cheesy Beef and Ricotta Lasagna recipe that tastes like you spent all day making it without all of the work.
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It’s no secret, I like easy dinners. I love to bake, but when it comes to dinner, I like something that requires little work on my part 😉
Most of the time when you think of a dish like lasagna, you think cheesy, gooey comfort food……..but time-consuming. But not this beef and ricotta lasagna recipe!! I’ve been making this dish since I was about 15. It’s the lasagna recipe I made in junior high home ec class. Why do they no longer call it “junior high”…..it’s now called middle school.
I digress, I was so excited to make this fabulous lasagna for my parents and brother back then, it doesn’t take a lot of skills, but makes one heck of an Italian dish, any level cook would be proud to put on the table!
After that night, I was dubbed “lasagna maker” in the family, and now 30 years later, it’s still the same lasagna recipe I use. I first posted this easy lasagna recipe back in 2009 and I thought it was time to bring this star of our family recipes back out! I made a few tiny changes that involved cheese last week. Total cheese-fest = best batch of lasagna ever!
Since back to school is looming around the corner, and schedules are going to start getting busy, this is a great recipe for any weeknight or, make a big batch for Sunday dinner and freeze a pan for a really quick weeknight meal! Read this post for pasta fix it and freeze it tips.
Be sure to serve this family favorite lasagna with a stack of napkins! 😉
Table of Contents
More Lasagna Recipes you might enjoy:
White Vegetable Lasagna Recipe on TidyMom
Back of the Box Creamette Lasagna Recipe from Amanda’s Cookin’
White Pizza Lasagna from How Sweet it Is
Lasagna Bread Pizza from Taste and Tell
Veggie Lasagna from Baked Bree
Sausage and Mushroom Spinach Lasagna Roll Ups from Bev Cooks
Pesto Lasagna from The Italian Dish
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Easy Beef and Ricotta Lasagna
A delicious dinner that the whole family will love with this easy cheesy lasagna recipe.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- garlic salt
- pepper
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomato
- 1 8 ounce can tomato sauce
- 1 pkg spaghetti sauce mix (I use McCormicks
- 9-12 lasagna noodles
- 6-8 ounces ricotta
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 2-3 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded (sometimes I use mozzarella & provolone cheese)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- In a large pot or dutch oven, cook ground beef over medium high heat just until meat is no longer pink. Season with garlic salt and pepper Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, and seasoning packet. Simmer, covered, for about 1/2 hour, stirring occasionally.
- While sauce is simmering, prepare water for the lasagna noodles and boil according to directions Drain noodles, and rinse with cold water.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Add cream cheese to meat sauce and stir until melted and blended, then remove meat sauce from heat. Stir in ricotta cheese.
- To assemble, line the bottom of a greased 9×13 glass pan with 3 or 4 noodles, spread 1/3 of meat & cheese sauce over noodles. Top with 1/3 of mozzarella cheese, sprinkle with 1/3 of Parmesan cheese. Repeat with 2 more layers.
- Bake for 30 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes before serving, so lasagna can hold together.
Notes
- ricotta can be replaced with cottage cheese, but after years of using cottage cheese, we found ricotta to be SO much better.
- sometimes I use Italian sausage instead of ground beef.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 582Total Fat: 33gSaturated Fat: 18gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 126mgSodium: 800mgCarbohydrates: 29gFiber: 2gSugar: 3gProtein: 41g
Nutrition information is estimated based on the ingredients and cooking instructions as described in each recipe and is intended to be used for informational purposes only. Please note that nutrition details may vary based on methods of preparation, origin, and freshness of ingredients used.
Hi there, I'm Cheryl!
As a wife, mom, and caffeine enthusiast, my journey has taken me from bustling mornings with my family to sharing delicious recipes, home care tips, and heartfelt decorating insights with wonderful readers like you. My love for baking, photography, and tidiness shines through every post I craft. Dive into my world and discover the art of homemaking, one tidy moment at a time. Read more...
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I love how long this recipe has been with you, Cheryl! I’ve never had cream cheese in a lasagna… what a great addition!
it adds a bit of creamy richness to it!!
Nom, nom nom. LOVE lasagna!! So neat you have been making this one for so long too! Looks delicious and I will have to try it!
xo
I used thin zucchini rounds instead of noodles to lower the carb count, and it turned out really well!
I love recipes like this! Perfect for busy families!
This is a great one to make on the w/end and freeze for a weeknight.
This is perfect for my family and for me since it is quick and easy! Score!
Yummmmy think I will whip this up…. But will not let sweetie about the cream cheese –
Due to he does not like it..he he betcha he never know will just tell him after the fact he he he.will let you know his reactions. But just more for me he he he…
Mine doesn’t like cream cheese either, and he had NO CLUE it was in there 😉
enjoy
Lasagna is one of my very favorite dinners, I’ve never tried it with cream cheese, sounds delish! I shared this on facebook and pinning!
It makes it rich and creamy!!! Let me know what you think if you try it!
Wait, you can freeze lasagna? I’ve never had a batch make it past the dinner table! My recipe could use some updating, though, I think I will try your version!
my 3 kids will love this!
Cream cheese in lasagna? I MUST try this!!
This needs to happen in my kitchen ASAP!
i’ve never made lasagna, can you believe that??? i always thought it was too labor intensive. so i will be giving this a try!!!
Hi! I made this (3 pans actually LOL a friend had a baby and another had a house fire…) earlier this week. Just wanted to say it took me more like 45/50 mins (I was only baking one pan, not all 3). In case you are a mom on a countdown to bedtime, you might want to pop it in the oven a little earlier than you planned to give yourself extra cook time 🙂
so odd, I’ve been making this for 35 years now, and 30 minutes has always worked for me. Thanks for the input! 😉
This sounds so good! Just one question, is it.3 cups each of mozzarella and provolone or 3 cups combined?
it’s 2-3 cups of cheese – I used Sargento mozzarella & provolone http://www.sargento.com/products/88/sargento-artisan-blends-shredded-mozzarella-provolone-cheese/
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this recipe. I enjoy cooking but not making lasagna because spreading the cheese is such a pain. I knew I would love making this the the minute I saw the cheese in the sauce 🤯 And I was right, but my family loves it too.
Side note: I started putting cream cheese in my spaghetti sometimes because of this recipe. 😉
Do you cover to cook?
No, I don’t cover it
I’m turning 70 an have never made lasagna an my sister wanted some an I decided to try making it for her, I’m not a fan of this type of food, but I’m going to try an make it as a labor of Love, I hope she will like it, thank you #Tidy mom.