Best Homemade Lasagna With Rich Meat Sauce

Homemade lasagna is the ultimate comfort food. After making this many times, I know the secret to perfect layers. The deep red meat sauce with creamy cheese and tender pasta is irresistible. Try this with my creamy lavender milk tea recipe. Jump to Recipe If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy How to Make Creamy Lavender Milk Tea at Home and Spicy Gochujang Caramel Cookies Recipe for Bold Flavor.

What You'll Need for Best Homemade Lasagna With Rich Meat Sauce

Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.

• 12 lasagna noodles
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 onion, diced
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 can crushed tomatoes
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
• Oregano
• Basil
• Garlic
• Salt
• Pepper
• Tomato paste
• Basil leaf
• Onion
• Optional: Fresh basil
• Optional: Chopped parsley
• Optional: Extra Parmesan
• Optional: Crushed red pepper flakes

How to Make Best Homemade Lasagna With Rich Meat Sauce

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
2. Step 2: In a large skillet, cook ground beef until browned. Drain excess fat.
3. Step 3: Add diced onion and minced garlic. Cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
4. Step 4: Stir in crushed tomatoes, beef broth, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 20 minutes.
5. Step 5: In a bowl, mix ricotta with a pinch of salt and pepper.
6. Step 6: Layer the meat sauce, lasagna noodles, ricotta mixture, and mozzarella in the baking dish.
7. Step 7: Repeat layers, finishing with a top layer of sauce and mozzarella.
8. Step 8: Bake for 25 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Storing & Reheating Best Homemade Lasagna With Rich Meat Sauce

Short-Term Storage

Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Make-ahead tip: Assemble up to 24 hours in advance and bake when ready.

Freezing Best Homemade Lasagna With Rich Meat Sauce

Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

How to Reheat Without Drying It Out

Oven: Reheat in a 350°F oven for 15–20 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in 30-second intervals until warmed through.

Recipe Notes

• Chef tip: Let thelasagna rest before cutting to prevent the layers from falling apart.
• Best substitution: Use a vegetable-based lasagna for a meat-free version.
• Make-ahead: Assemble and refrigerate up to 24 hours before baking.
• Scaling: Double the recipe for larger groups, using a larger baking dish.
• Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thin, simmer longer or add a little flour to thicken.

Best Homemade Lasagna With Rich Meat Sauce

⏱

Prep

30 min

🍳

Cook

25 min

⏳

Total

55 min

🍽

Serves

8 servings

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• 12 lasagna noodles
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 onion, diced
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 can crushed tomatoes
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan

Seasonings

• Oregano
• Basil
• Garlic
• Salt
• Pepper
• Tomato paste
• Basil leaf
• Onion

Optional Toppings

• Fresh basil
• Chopped parsley
• Extra Parmesan
• Crushed red pepper flakes

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
2. Step 2: In a large skillet, cook ground beef until browned. Drain excess fat.
3. Step 3: Add diced onion and minced garlic. Cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
4. Step 4: Stir in crushed tomatoes, beef broth, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 20 minutes.
5. Step 5: In a bowl, mix ricotta with a pinch of salt and pepper.
6. Step 6: Layer the meat sauce, lasagna noodles, ricotta mixture, and mozzarella in the baking dish.
7. Step 7: Repeat layers, finishing with a top layer of sauce and mozzarella.
8. Step 8: Bake for 25 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

• Chef tip: Let thelasagna rest before cutting to prevent the layers from falling apart.
• Best substitution: Use a vegetable-based lasagna for a meat-free version.
• Make-ahead: Assemble and refrigerate up to 24 hours before baking.
• Scaling: Double the recipe for larger groups, using a larger baking dish.
• Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thin, simmer longer or add a little flour to thicken.

Storage

• Fridge: Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
• Freezer: Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
• Oven reheat: Reheat in a 350°F oven for 15–20 minutes.
• Microwave reheat: Reheat in 30-second intervals until warmed through.
• Make ahead: Assemble up to 24 hours in advance and bake when ready.

Nutrition Per Serving

• Calories: 550
• Protein: 25g
• Fat: 25g
• Carbs: 35g
• Fiber: 3g
• Sugar: 4g
• Sodium: 1200mg
• Cholesterol: 80mg
• Sat. Fat: 12g

Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.

Best Homemade Lasagna With Rich Meat Sauce FAQs

A Warm Final Note

I can’t wait for you to try Best Homemade Lasagna With Rich Meat Sauce and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!