Hearty Family Lasagna That Feels Like Home 💛
We all crave comfort food that brings the family together—and this homemade lasagna is just that. In fact, this recipe is so delicious, yet simple, I’ve started using it for my weekly Lasagna Love contribution. Haven’t heard of Lasagna Love? It is a fabulous volunteer opportunity to help feed other families in your community. What I especially love about it is that I can set up when, where, and how much I volunteer on MY schedule. It’s the bonus of the wonderful feeling of doing for others without the stress of it taking away from time with my own family. If you want to learn more, you can check it out here: https://lasagnalove.org/
Why You’ll Love This Lasagna
- Comfort-food classic with rich meat sauce and melty cheese in every bite.
- Picky-eater friendly—hide extra veggies in the sauce without sacrificing flavor.
- Make-ahead convenience—assemble early and bake when ready.
- Feeds a crowd—great for leftovers, gatherings, or meal prep.
Ingredients (makes a 9 × 13" pan, serves ~8)
For the sauce:
- 1 lb lean ground beef (or turkey/Italian sausage)
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 (28 oz) cans crushed tomatoes
- 2 tsp dried parsley
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 2 tsp salt
Cheese layers:
- 1 (32 oz) container whole milk ricotta
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 4 cups shredded mozzarella, divided evenly (may want more)
- ½ tsp black pepper
- Small bunch fresh basil
Pasta:
- 1 - 9 oz box oven ready lasagna noodles
Directions
- Make the sauce:
In a dutch oven or large pot over medium heat, cook ground beef until no pink remains (5–7 minutes, and depending upon fat content of meat, you may want to add a little olive oil to dutch oven). Add garlic, cook 1 more minute. Add crushed tomatoes, salt, oregano, and parsley. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. - Mix the cheese layer:
Crack eggs into large bowl and whisk. Stir in ricotta, parmesan, pepper, and 2 cups mozzarella. Mince basil to make ¼ cup, then stir into cheese mixture. - Layer the lasagna:
- Preheat oven to 375 °F.
- Spread 1 cup of sauce in the bottom of a 9 × 13" baking dish.
- Spread ⅓ cup of cheese mixture each on 3 lasagna noodles, then evenly space noodles in baking dish. Top with 1 cup of sauce.
- Repeat above step 3 more times. Top with last 3 lasagna noodles, then cover fully with remaining sauce.
- Bake to cheesy perfection:
Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and sprinkle remaining 2 cups of mozzarella on top (I actually like to use more, so make it as cheesy are you like!) Bake uncovered for 15-20 more minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly.
Pro Tips & Variations
- Veggie boost: Toss 2 cups fresh spinach or mushrooms into the sauce during simmering. You can also add grated zucchini to the cheese mixture - just make sure you squeeze out extra moisture before adding.
Serve It With…
A crisp Caesar salad, herby garlic bread, and a big hug from the whole family—because nothing says home more than lasagna night.
Give this recipe a try and let me know if you sneak in some veggies for the kids. If you loved this, stick around for more recipes and family-friendly twists! 🍽️
