We love lasagna around here and have gotten creative over the years with Lasagna Soup and even Chicken Lasagna, but we’ve heard again and again from our readers that this is the best lasagna recipe they’ve ever made. This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
Best Lasagna Recipe
Lasagna is the perfect meal, and of all of the recipes I’ve tried over the years, this is the perfect lasagna. We loved it so much, we even turned it into Lasagna Roll Ups. It’s flavorful and satisfying, but also easy to make. It’s delicious as-is, but you can make it your own by swapping in your favorite ingredients. In our house, lasagna is a staple for busy school nights because it keeps, reheats, and freezes so well and it’s nice to have something in the fridge to enjoy throughout the week. I even use it for kids’ lunches—I pack a serving in my son’s thermos to keep it hot and that thermos comes home empty every time.
Lasagna Video
Watch Natasha make this classic Lasagna Recipe. It’s the best lasagna we have tried, with the perfect balance of meat sauce to the three cheese sauce and noodles. That golden cheese crust seals in all the flavor and makes it irresistible. Here’s why you’ll love this recipe:
Meaty, cheesy, and saucy – Everything you want in a lasagna recipe.Perfect for Meal Prep – It’s simple enough that you can make it on a weeknight, but you can also make it over the weekend to enjoy it throughout the week. Or double the recipe and freeze one lasagna for later.Everyone approves – this is a family-friendly meal.
Ingredients
This 3-cheese lasagna is the ultimate comfort food and the ingredients are refrigerator and pantry staples. See the recipe card below for quantities and full instructions.
Ground beef – We used 80/20 beef (20% fat content) for a juicier lasagna.Onion – we use yellow onion, or sweet onion works wellGarlic cloves – you can add more if you love garlicRed wine (or beef broth) – This amps up the flavor of your sauce (avoid using cooking wine).Marinara sauce – Use homemade marinara or store-bought.Dried thyme – Italian seasoning, basil, or oregano can be substitutedSugar – balances the acidity of the tomatoesParsley – flat-leaf or curly parsley works wellLasagna noodles – Cook these al dente; they’ll continue to soften as the lasagna bakes.Cottage cheese – adds great texture and moistureRicotta cheese – we use low-fat or part-skim ricottaMozzarella cheese – An Italian cheese blend works, but mozzarella is definitely the classic choiceEgg – helps hold the cheese layer together
Pro Tip: Use a very large pot of salted water to boil the lasagna noodles and stir them several times, especially right after adding them to the pot. This will keep them from sticking to each other and tearing.
How to Make Lasagna
If you’d like to get a head start on this recipe, you can make the meat sauce a day or two in advance. That said, it’s still easy enough that you can make it all in one go, even for a weeknight dinner. Pro Tip: There’s nothing worse than having the top portion of cheese stuck to the foil. To prevent this, I poke 8-10 toothpicks evenly around the top of the lasagna, pushing them in halfway to keep the foil from touching the cheese. Just be sure to count and remove every toothpick prior to serving.
Common Questions
What to Serve with Lasagna
Lasagna is a satisfying meal on its own, but if you’re feeding a big crowd, you can stretch it out by serving it with:
Easy Garlic BreadCaesar SaladFocaccia BreadCaprese SaladPanzanella Salad with the Best Dressing
Make-Ahead
Here’s everything you need to know about storing lasagna for later.
To Refrigerate: You can assemble the lasagna and store it covered in the refrigerator for a day or two until you are ready to bake. Freezing: Lasagna can be frozen before or after baking. Either way, it will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months when wrapped well or stored in an airtight container.To Reheat: Frozen lasagna should be thawed in the refrigerator first; this reduces the time needed for baking and ensures more even heating. Bake according to the recipe instructions; if your lasagna was already baked and you’re simply reheating it, cover the baking dish with foil and reheat at 350ºF until warmed through.Slow Cooker Lasaga – this is one of our favorite ways to make dinner ahead of time.
With its meaty sauce and layers of cheese, we think you’ll agree that this is the best lasagna recipe ever!
More Pasta Recipes
If you love this lasagna, then you won’t want to miss these pasta recipes.
Baked Ziti (Easy Pasta Casserole) VIDEOChicken Pesto Pasta (VIDEO)Spaghetti and Meatballs Recipe (VIDEO)Creamy Baked Feta Pasta (VIDEO)Mom’s Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo (VIDEO)
