Classic Lasagna
Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 2 cups water
- 1 tablespoon oregano
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon white sugar
- 1 package lasagna noodles
- 12 ounces ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated or shredded
- 1 egg
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
Supplies
- 2 large skillets
- large saucepan
- large pot
- colander
- 2 medium bowls
- whisk
- 9×13 baking dish
Directions
In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until brown. Drain excess fat. In a separate skillet over medium heat, cook onion until translucent. Combine beef and onion in a large saucepan with tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, water, oregano, garlic powder, basil, salt, pepper, and sugar. Cook over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for one hour.
While sauce is simmering, prepare lasagna noodles. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook lasagna noodles for 8 to 10 minutes. Drain noodles, and rinse with cold water. Set aside.
Next, blend the Parmesan and egg in a medium bowl with a whisk until combined evenly. Then stir in the ricotta cheese. In another bowl combine cheddar and mozzarella cheeses. Set both bowls aside.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Begin to assemble your lasagna. Start by spreading one cup of tomato sauce in the bottom of a 9-by-13 inch baking dish.
Cover sauce with one layer of noodles (about 3 noodles should do.) Divide the remaining sauce into thirds. Cover noodles with one-third sauce.
Cover the sauce with half the mozzarella and cheddar mixture. Place another layer of noodles and one-third of sauce over the cheese. Top the sauce with the ricotta cheese blend.
Place remaining lasagna noodles on top, and spread with the remaining third of the sauce.
Bake the lasagna in a preheated oven for 30 minutes. Sprinkle remaining mozzarella and cheddar mixture on top and bake an additional 15 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
If your prefer no-boil noodles, you may use those instead. Simply, follow the package instructions.
Lasagna hits home on so many levels. It’s a classic Italian comfort food that is full of rich flavor, juicy meat, delectable cheese, and savory tomato sauce. When it comes to great food, it’s hard to top the layers of amazing flavor found in classic lasagna recipes. However, if you’re looking to kick it up a notch or simply try a new spin on a classic recipe, there are ways to change up lasagna’s ingredients. The type of sauce, cheese, or meat you use can really make a difference. You can also add an array of spices to bring out even more flavor in your finished lasagna.
Using Different Sauces In Your Lasagna
Each layer of lasagna comprises of a noodle sheet, some sauce, meat, and cheese. Mixing up the type of sauce you use is one of the most significant ways you can change up the recipe. Thanks to the sauce’s ingredients, there are a lot of flavor possibilities without much extra effort on your end. Here are a few different sauces you can use to make homemade lasagna:
- Bolognese
- bechamel
- cheese sauce
- traditional homemade tomato sauce
- alfredo
- vodka sauce
- a Ragù style sauce
- creamy pesto
Putting Extra Spices And Herbs In Your Lasagna
Adding extra spices won’t change the flavors as drastically as switching out the sauce. However, extra spices can help create a broader depth of flavor that results in a downright addicting pasta dish. If you’re making a sauce, the spices you add can be put directly into it before preparing your lasagna for baking. If you’re using fresh herbs, they can be used as a garnish when plating the lasagna. There are several spices that go well with lasagna including:
- parsley
- basil
- red pepper flakes
- sage
- rosemary
- thyme
- bay leaf
- chili powder
- Italian seasoning
Switching Out The Meat In Your Homemade Lasagna
The meat you choose to use can impact the flavor of your lasagna quite a bit. Outside of ground beef, there are a few different types of meat that you can use to alter the flavor and create a unique lasagna dish. Here’s some inspiration on different meats that pair well with lasagna:
- ground sausage
- ground turkey
- chicken
- ground pork
- ground bison
Using A Different Blend Of Cheeses In Your Lasagna
Switching out the type of cheese you use in your lasagna recipe will also change the flavor of the dish quite a bit. When it comes to lasagna, some cheeses are simply better than others, but thankfully, there are a lot that will work well. Try a few kinds of cheese from this list to mix up your lasagna recipe:
- cottage cheese
- Mascarpone
- Romano
- Asiago
- Provolone
- blue cheese
- Monterey Jack
- Gouda
Create A Bechemel Style Lasagna
A bechamel style lasagna is a more authentic approach to this Italian dish. This style of lasagna still uses a red meat sauce; however, the ricotta cheese is replaced with a white sauce made from butter, flour, whole milk, and some spices of your choosing. The end result is a rich, creamy, and delicious lasagna that will have you heading back for a second helping.
There are dozens of ways to create a delectable lasagna. If you’re not a fan of traditional lasagna, perhaps you just need to try a bechamel or a variation of your own design using your favorite ingredients. Lasagna itself can be very forgiving when it comes to experimentation, so don’t be afraid to take a leap of faith.
