Homemade Lasagna Comfort Food (Print Format)

Layers of hearty meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and melted cheese create the ultimate comfort food.

# Ingredients:

→ Meat Sauce

01 - 1 tbsp olive oil
02 - 1 cup onion, chopped
03 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
04 - 1 lb ground beef
05 - ½ lb ground pork
06 - 1 28 oz can diced tomatoes
07 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
08 - 1 tbsp granulated sugar
09 - ½ tsp dried basil
10 - ½ tsp dried oregano
11 - ½ tsp red pepper flakes
12 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Ricotta Filling

13 - 16 oz full-fat ricotta cheese
14 - 1 large egg
15 - ¼ tsp dried basil
16 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Lasagna Assembly

17 - 9 lasagna noodles, uncooked
18 - 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
19 - ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

# Steps:

01 - In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Sauté the chopped onion and garlic for about 1 minute until fragrant and translucent. Add the ground beef and pork, cooking until no pink remains. Drain excess fat and season with salt and pepper. Stir in the tomato paste, diced tomatoes, sugar, basil, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
02 - In a medium bowl, mix the ricotta cheese, egg, basil, salt, and pepper until smooth. Set aside.
03 - Boil the lasagna noodles in salted water until al dente, according to package instructions. Drain and lay flat on a clean towel to prevent sticking.
04 - Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C) and grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. Spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom of the dish. Add 3 lasagna noodles, then layer with ⅓ of the meat sauce, ⅓ of the ricotta filling (in dollops), and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese. Repeat the layering process two more times, ending with the remaining mozzarella and a sprinkle of grated Parmesan on top.
05 - Cover the dish with foil and bake for 40 minutes. Remove the foil and bake an additional 10–15 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbling. Allow to rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.