World's Best Lasagna
Nobody makes lasagna like Judy. She makes the world’s best lasagna! These words have come out of my mouth at church functions where her Easy Homemade Lasagna Recipe is served. Me saying this reminds me of the scene in the movie Elf, where he congratulates the café owner for having the world’s best cup of coffee after reading a sign on the front door stating that fact. Ha! Except for this time it's true!
How to Make a Simple Lasagna Recipe
But, we do love this simple lasagna recipe that features NOT having to precook the lasagna noodles. That is a game changer for me making it a standard recipe to serve at family get togethers.
Lasagna with Cottage Cheese?
When I was little this dish (lasagna) was totally suspect because it had cottage cheese in it. But as I’ve matured I realize that is part of what makes this taste so good. The recipe does call for some part skim ricotta cheese as well. I don’t always put that it, but it is good!! (That's why it is crossed out on the recipe card in the picture.)
Lasagna Layers
This is the part that the grandkids love to help with, the layering. If you have the ground beef browned and the onions sauteed ahead of time, it is fast to put together with their help. Of course they older grands can help brown the beef and the onions too, but it’s easier for the littles to do the layering part.
Basically, there are four layers to prepare when making lasagna.
The four layers are a beef mix layer, lasagna noodles layer, a cheese mix layer, and a mozzarella cheese layer.
Beef mix layer
I had browned the ground beef earlier, so the chopped onions were sauteed in a couple tablespoons of butter and added to the browned beef. Do go ahead and reheat the ground beef. The recipe says to add one jar of spaghetti sauce, but I use regular, uncooked lasagna noodles and that takes a bit extra moisture so I use 1 and ½ jars of spaghetti sauce. Mix this all together either in the skillet or in a mixing bowl. Set to the side for layering.
Tip: Freeze the other ½ jar of spaghetti sauce for the next time you make lasagna.
Lasagna noodles layer
I purchase regular lasagna noodles to use in this recipe. They take a bit more moisture because we don't precook them so that is why I use an extra half jar of spaghetti sauce in the meat layer. If you choose to use the no cook noodles in your recipe, don't add the extra spaghetti sauce. Those noodles are made thinner and don't need extra moisture in the recipe.
Cheese mix layer
The cheese mix layer consists of cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese and 2 eggs. Mix these ingredients in a mixing bowl. Set to the side for layering.
Line em' up!
It works great to mix the ingredients for each layer and line them up in order in front of you to layer in the 9x13 pan. If kids are helping this is especially good to do. So line up the skillet or bowl of meat sauce for the beef mix layer, the box of uncooked lasagna noodles for a noodles layer, the bowl of mixed cheeses for the cheese mix layer, and the bag of Mozzarella cheese for the mozzarella cheese layer. Have the 9x13 pan ready as well.
Layer them up
Layer ¼ of the beef, a layer of noodles (I use 4 per layer as shown in the picture), ⅓ of the cheese mix, ¼ of the mozzarella cheese. Then repeat the layers 3 times total ending with some sauce. Save back some of the mozzarella cheese to sprinkle on top when taking the cooked lasagna out of the oven.
Bake the lasagna
Spray a piece of aluminum foil with cooking spray and cover the 9x13 with the foil. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. (Yes, I know, the recipe card says 35, not 350 degrees!)
Take the foil off, sprinkle with the last ½ cup of mozzarella cheese, and bake for 15 more minutes. Let the lasagna sit for 15 minutes before serving. The kids will love it, especially if they helped!
The best thing about lasagna is that it is even better when reheated. So Papa and I always like it if there is extra left over for the next day. Yum.
Dessert anyone?
Perhaps you would like a dessert to eat with your lasagna? You may want to try:
Enjoy!
If you try this recipe (especially with the grands), let me know! Go ahead and leave a comment, rate it, and tag a photo with #WelcometoNanas wherever you post.
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Easy Homemade Lasagna Recipe
Equipment
- 1 9x13 Pan
- Mixing Bowls
- Skillet
- Spatula
- Chefs Knife
Ingredients
- 1 Pound Ground beef
- 1 Onion (chopped)
- 2- 28 Ounce Spagetti Sauce
- 16 Ounce Cottage Cheese (small curd)
- 1 Pint Part skim Ricotta Cheese (optional)
- ¼ Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 2 Eggs
- 16 Ounce Lasagna Noodles
- 8 Ounce Mozzarella Cheese (shredded)
- Aluminum Foil
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef. Drain off grease.
- Mince the onion and then sauté in 2 Tbsp. of the beef drippings.
- Mix the ground beef, sautéed onion and 1 ½ of the containers of spaghetti sauce. (Note- 1 and ½ container. Freeze or use the other ½ container.)
- Combine and mix the cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, parmasan cheese, and eggs.
- Line up the items to layer- beef mixture layer, lasagna noodles, cheese mixture layer, bag of mozzarella cheese.
- In a 9x13 pan, layer ¼ of beef mixture, uncooked lasagna noodles, ⅓ cheese mixture, ¼ mozzarella cheese. Repeat 3 times ending with some beef mixture and save ½ cup of mozzarella cheese for later
- Cover with tin foil (you have sprayed with cooking spray) and bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees.
- Uncover, add last ½ cup of mozzarella cheese and cook for 15 more minutes.
- Let sit for 15 minutes before serving. Also great re-heated.
Supplies for Easy Homemade Lasagna
- 9x13 pan
- Mixing bowls
- Skillet
- Spatula
- Chefs knife
- Aluminum foil
Shelly says
Great to make with kids.