Quick and Easy Lasagna Recipe

If you’re looking for a comforting and satisfying meal, lasagna is a perfect dish to make. Even though it may seem complicated to prepare, making lasagna is actually quite easy, especially with the right recipe and a few helpful tips.

To begin, it’s important to have all the necessary ingredients on hand, such as lasagna sheets, ground meat, tomato sauce, cheese, and seasonings. Once you’ve gathered all the ingredients, the process is as simple as layering the lasagna sheets, sauce, meat, and cheese and baking it in the oven. Whether you’re an experienced cook or a beginner in the kitchen, this easy lasagna recipe will become a go-to for your weeknight dinners or special occasions. Keep reading for some helpful tips to make the process even smoother!

Ingredients

Lasagna is a traditional Italian dish consisting of layers of pasta, cheese, and a meat or vegetable-based sauce. It may seem complicated to make, but it’s actually quite simple. Here are the ingredients you’ll need to create a delicious and easy lasagna.

1. Pasta Sheets

Lasagna noodles are flat, wide, and come in a box of 12-16 pieces. They are often made with wheat flour but can also be made with quinoa, buckwheat or even gluten-free flours.

2. Cheese

Cheese is a must-have ingredient when it comes to making lasagna. Typically, you will need ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese, and mozzarella cheese. If you’re vegan or lactose intolerant, there are plenty of plant-based cheese options available.

3. Ground Meat

The meat sauce is the heart of the lasagna, making it more savory and rich. It can be made with ground beef, turkey, pork, chicken, or even a vegetarian substitute.

4. Vegetable Sauce

There’s no doubt that some people are vegetarian or vegan and this option is perfect for them. Vegetable sauce is equally delicious and doesn’t require meat. Use onions, garlic, carrots, celery, bell peppers, zucchini, and any other vegetable of your choice.

5. Tomatoes

Fresh tomatoes or canned tomatoes are needed for the sauce. San Marzano tomatoes are considered the best for Italian dishes, but any will work.

6. Olive Oil

Extra virgin olive oil is the perfect oil to use for lasagna. It has a rich, nutty flavor that compliments the other ingredients.

7. Spices

Oregano, thyme, basil, rosemary, parsley, and bay leaves are a few herbs that are commonly used in a lasagna recipe. These bring out the flavors of the other ingredients and give the dish an authentic Italian taste.

8. Salt

Salt brings the dish together by enhancing the flavors. Kosher or sea salt is preferred over table salt.

9. Pepper

Black pepper is typically used in the meat sauce and the vegetable sauce. It can also be sprinkled on top of the dish before baking.

10. Water

Lasagna needs liquid to cook the noodles to perfection. Water is added to the sauce to create a balanced consistency.

Ensure you have all these ingredients in your hand before making the lasagna. In the next section, we’ll guide you on how to put these ingredients together to create an easy lasagna that will leave a smile on the faces of your family and friends.

Section 2: Preparing the Ingredients

Gathering the Ingredients

Before we start making our lasagna, we need to make sure we have all the necessary ingredients. Here are the ingredients you will need for this easy lasagna recipe:

– 1 pound of ground beef
– 1 onion, diced
– 3 garlic cloves, minced
– 1 jar of tomato sauce
– 1 can of tomato paste
– 2 teaspoons of dried basil
– 1 teaspoon of dried oregano
– 1 teaspoon of salt
– 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
– 1 box of lasagna noodles
– 2 cups of shredded Mozzarella cheese
– 1 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
– Fresh parsley, chopped

Browning the Ground Beef

Let’s start by browning the ground beef. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the ground beef and diced onion. Stir occasionally until the beef is fully cooked and the onion is softened and translucent. Drain any excess fat from the pan.

Adding the Sauce and Spices

Next, add the minced garlic to the skillet and sauté for another 30 seconds until fragrant. Then, add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, dried basil, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Stir everything together until well combined. Reduce the heat to low and let the sauce simmer for about 10 minutes.

Cooking the Lasagna Noodles

While the sauce is simmering, it’s time to cook the lasagna noodles. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the lasagna noodles according to the package directions. Drain the noodles and rinse them with cold water to prevent them from sticking together.

Assembling the Lasagna

Now that all our ingredients are ready, it’s time to assemble the lasagna. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. In a 9×13 inch baking dish, spread a thin layer of the meat sauce on the bottom of the dish. Then, add a layer of lasagna noodles on top of the sauce. Spread another layer of the meat sauce on top of the noodles. Sprinkle some Mozzarella and Parmesan cheese on top of the sauce. Repeat the layering process until all the ingredients are used up, ending with a layer of cheese.

Baking the Lasagna

Cover the lasagna with aluminum foil and place it in the preheated oven. Bake for 25 minutes. Then, remove the foil and bake the lasagna for another 25 to 30 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Remove the lasagna from the oven and let it cool for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

Garnishing with Fresh Parsley

Once the lasagna has cooled, sprinkle some chopped fresh parsley on top of the lasagna. This will add some freshness and color to the dish, making it even more appetizing.

Storing the Lasagna

If you have any leftovers, let the lasagna cool completely before storing it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The lasagna will keep for up to 4 days in the refrigerator. To reheat, simply place a serving on a microwave-safe plate and microwave it for 1 to 2 minutes, or until heated through.

Freezing the Lasagna

You can also freeze the lasagna for future meals. Let the lasagna cool completely before wrapping it in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Label and date the lasagna before storing it in the freezer. The lasagna will keep for up to 3 months in the freezer. To reheat, simply thaw the lasagna in the refrigerator overnight and bake it in the oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 to 30 minutes or until heated through.

Conclusion

Now that you know how to make easy lasagna, you can impress your family and friends with this delicious and hearty meal. With these simple ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions, you can have a satisfying lasagna dinner on the table in no time.

Ingredients for Easy Lasagna

Before we start with the recipe, let’s gather all the ingredients we need. All these ingredients are readily available at your local supermarket or grocery store.

Preparing the Meat Sauce

The first step in making easy lasagna is preparing the meat sauce. Take a large saucepan or Dutch oven and heat it on medium-high heat. Once the pan is hot, add a tablespoon of cooking oil and add the ground beef to it.

Stir the beef occasionally and cook it until it turns brown and there is no pink color visible, this should take about 5-8 minutes. Add the minced garlic, dried basil, dried oregano, salt and ground black pepper to the meat, and cook for an additional minute.

Next, pour the canned tomato sauce in the same pan and stir the meat sauce well. Bring the sauce to a simmer, and cook uncovered for about 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Cooking the Lasagna Noodles

As the meat sauce simmers on the stove, it’s time to cook the lasagna noodles. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add the lasagna noodles to it. Cook the noodles according to the instructions on the package, usually for about 10-12 minutes.

Once the noodles are cooked, strain them using a colander and rinse them under cold water until they become cool enough to handle. Spread them on a clean kitchen towel or waxed paper so that they don’t stick together.

Preparing the Cheese Mixture

While the meat sauce is cooking, and the lasagna noodles are boiling, it’s time to prepare the cheese mixture. In a medium-sized bowl, mix the ricotta cheese, grated Parmesan cheese, and lightly beaten eggs together.

Stir the cheese mixture until well combined and set it aside until the other elements of the dish are ready to be assembled.

Assembling the Lasagna

Now that all the components are ready, it’s time to assemble the lasagna. Preheat your oven to 375 F. Take a 9×13 inch baking dish and spread a large spoonful of the meat sauce over the bottom of the dish.

Place a layer of lasagna noodles on top of the sauce, overlapping them slightly. Spread a third of the cheese mixture evenly over the noodles. Repeat until you’ve used up all the ingredients, making sure to end with a layer of meat sauce on top.

Finally, sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese over the top of the lasagna, cover the dish with foil, and bake it in the oven for about 25-30 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is golden brown on the top. Let the lasagna cool for about 10 minutes before serving.

That’s it! Your easy lasagna is now ready to be enjoyed. Hope you love it!

That’s how you make easy lasagna!

I hope you enjoyed this article and found it helpful in making your own delicious lasagna at home. Remember, cooking is all about experimentation and having fun in the kitchen. So don’t be afraid to add your own twist to the recipe! Thanks for reading and feel free to come back to my blog for more easy and tasty recipes. Happy cooking!