Easy Lasagna Recipe

Easy Lasagna Recipe

from natashaskitchen.com
Dinner
80 min
368 kcal / serving

With 3 cheeses and a meaty ground beef sauce, it's easy to see why so many of our readers have proclaimed this the best lasagna recipe they've ever had.

Ingredients

  • 1 lbground beef ((15-20% fat content))
  • 1 mediumonion (finely diced)
  • 2 largegarlic cloves (minced)
  • ¼ cupdry red wine (or beef broth)
  • 1 tbspolive oil
  • 24 ozmarinara sauce ((3 cups))
  • ½ tspsea salt
  • ¼ tspblack pepper (ground)
  • ¼ tspdried thyme
  • ½ tspgranulated sugar
  • 2 tbspparsley (finely chopped)
  • 9lasagna noodles (cooked al dente)
  • 16 ozlow-fat cottage cheese
  • 15 ozreduced fat ricotta cheese
  • 1 largeegg
  • 2 tbspparsley (finely chopped, plus more to garnish)
  • 4 cupsmozzarella cheese (shredded, divided)

Directions

How to make meat sauce:

  1. 1

    Place a deep pan or dutch oven over medium/high heat and add 1 Tbsp olive oil, 1 lb ground beef and diced onion. Saute, breaking up the meat, for 5 minutes or until beef is no longer pink. Add pressed garlic and sauté another minute until fragrant. 

  2. 2

    Add 1/4 cup wine and stir for 2 minutes or until wine is nearly evaporated. Add 3 cups marinara, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper, 1/4 tsp thyme, 1/2 tsp sugar and 2 Tbsp parsley. Bring to a simmer then cover and cook 5 minutes. 

How to make cheese sauce:

  1. 1

    In a large mixing bowl, combine 16 oz Cottage Cheese, 15 oz Ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella, 1 egg and 2 Tbsp parsley. Mix well.

How to make lasagna:

  1. 1

    Preheat oven to 375˚F. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add salt and 9 lasagna noodles. Cook until al dente according to package instructions then drain and pour in cold water to stop the cooking process and prevent sticking.

  2. 2

    Spread 1/2 cup meat sauce in the bottom of a deep 9x13 casserole dish. Add 3 noodles, spread on 1/3 of the meat sauce, and sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Spoon on and spread the top with 1/2 of your cheese sauce. Repeat until you have 3 layers of noodles.

  3. 3

    Poke 9-12 toothpicks over the surface of your lasagna (to keep the foil from sticking to the cheese). Cover with foil and bake at 375˚F for 45 minutes.

  4. 4

    Remove foil and broil for 3 to 5 minutes, or until cheese turns golden. Let lasagna rest 30 min before slicing.