The Best Lasagna Recipe - Easy Classic Dinner w/ Homemade Bolognese (2024)

This Easy Homemade Lasagna Recipe is a family favorite! This classic dinner is full of homemade bolognese, a creamy cottage cheese or ricotta filling, and gooey cheese.

Lasagna is a classic for a reason. Perfectly al denté noodles layered with a creamy filling, gooey cheese, and a hearty beef bolognese. What’s not to love?!

It’s easy, it’s filling, and it’s loved by all!

Ingredients

This super simple ingredient list makes up a delicious, cheesy, super flavorful lasagna!

• Bolognese– I use my homemade bolognese from my spaghetti bolognese recipe! It has ground beef and Italian sausage…and it’s so good!
• Lasagna Noodles– cooked 2 minutes less than al dente according to box directions. This is key to avoiding mushy noodles.
• Cottage Cheese– I prefer the taste and texture of cottage cheese, but feel free to use ricotta for a more traditional filling.
• Mozzarella Cheese and Parmesan Cheese– the classic lasagna cheeses. Mozzarella is ooey-gooey perfection while parmesan adds an amazing sharp, salty flavor.
• Italian Seasoning, Dried Basil, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Nutmeg, Salt, and Pepper– the classic Italian dish seasoning mixture with some nutmeg for a touch of warmth and sweetness.
• Eggs– binds the cheese mixture.

How to make lasagna

This easy dinner is perfect any day of the week!

1. Mix cottage cheese, some of the mozzarella and parmesan, seasonings, and eggs in food processor.
2. Spread a portion of the meat sauce in the bottom of a greased baking dish.
3. Layer with noodles, cottage cheese/egg mixture, additional mozzarella cheese, more meat sauce, and more parmesan cheese. Repeat these layers 3 times.
4. Top with remaining mozzarella, then cover with foil that has been greased with cooking spray.
5. Bake for 25 minutes, uncover, bake for another 25 minutes, cool, then serve and enjoy!

How to layer lasagna

Start with a single layer of meat sauce on the bottom of the baking dish and then layer on in this order:

1. Noodles.
2. Cottage Cheese Filling.
3. Mozzarella.
4. Meat Sauce.
5. Parmesan.

Repeat this sequence 3 times then finish it off with the remaining mozzarella cheese before you bake it!

How long to bake lasagna

Bake lasagna, covered, at 375ºF for 25 minutes, then uncovered for an additional 25 minutes.

Covering it for half the time gives the lasagna time to cook all the way through without burning the top layer of cheese.

Do you need to cook the lasagna noodles first?

Yes! Cook your noodles 2 minutes less than al dente according to the directions on the box.

You want them to be slightly undercooked since they will continue to cook in the oven within the assembled lasagna. If you cook them fully beforehand, they will overcook and become mushy.

I don’t recommend no boil noodles, I personally find that the noodles don’t cook well.

How to keep the cheese from sticking to the foil

Before you cover the baking dish, make sure you grease the foil generously with cooking spray.

This prevents it from sticking to the cheese so it’s easy to remove after the first 25 minutes of baking!

What cheese goes in lasagna?

Classic lasagna recipes use a blend of parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, and ricotta cheese.

In this recipe, I’m substituting the ricotta cheese for full fat cottage cheese! I personally prefer the taste and texture, and bonus: it’s healthier! If youprefer ricotta cheese feel free to use that.

Why is my lasagna watery?

To prevent watery lasagna, make sure the noodles are drained properly after you cook them.

Also make sure you refrain from rinsing the noodles after you drain them. This will rinse off the starch which actually helps thicken the sauce for less moisture.

You’ll also want to make sure you’re using full fat cottage cheese, lower fat cottage cheeses are more watery.

Is lasagna healthy?

I wouldn’t call lasagna a superfood but it’s not one of the worst things either.

One large slice has slightly less than 600 calories and contains 32 grams of fat, 36 grams of carbs, and 37 grams or protein.

Feel free to give it a boost of nutrition by blending some spinach into your cheese mixture! You could even health-ify it further by using my turkey bolognese, whole wheat noodles, and part skim mozzarella!

Lasagna recipe variations

• Use a different meat.Try my healthy turkey bolognese instead.
• Make it vegetarian.Vegetarian lasagna recipe coming soon! 🙂
• Use veggie “noodles.”Try this zucchini lasagna instead.
• Add other cheeses.Try it with ricotta cheese, goat cheese, gruyere cheese, etc.
• Lighten it Up. Add spinach to the filling, use turkey bolognese, whole wheat noodles, and part skim mozzarella!

What to serve with lasagna?

I love to add a couple of side dishes that include veggies for a little boost of nutrition!

• Simple Green Salad with Italian Dressing
• Garlic Bread
• Caprese Salad
• Roasted Asparagus
• Pear, Blue Cheese, and Candied Pecan Salad

Can lasagna be made ahead of time?

Yep! Lasagna can be fully prepped and assembled ahead of time. Follow the recipe instructions then, before baking, cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

If frozen, thaw a day ahead of time in the fridge, then bake as directed!

How to store

Store leftover lasagna in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days.

Can you freeze lasagna?

You sure can! To freeze already baked lasagna, store it in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

How to reheat lasagna

To reheat your lasagna, thaw in the fridge if frozen then bake, covered with foil, at 350ºF for 10-15 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes so the top layer can crisp back up.

– Jennifer