How To Make The Best Homemade Lasagna
About this recipe
Lasagna is a classic comfort food that brings layers of flavor and texture together in one delicious dish. This recipe, shared by Delilah from The Simple Way, simplifies the process using oven-ready noodles and a rich meat sauce, ensuring you won't want to reach for frozen lasagna ever again.
With a combination of ground beef, marinara sauce, and a creamy ricotta mixture, this homemade lasagna is perfect for family dinners or holiday gatherings. Plus, the use of high-quality ingredients makes all the difference in flavor.
Ingredient notes
- Use 12 oz of NO BOIL lasagna noodles for ease.
- 24 oz of mozzarella cheese can be adjusted to your liking.
- For the meat, use 2.5 lbs of ground beef with an 80/20 fat ratio for the best flavor and texture.
- 48 oz of marinara sauce is recommended, and a high-quality sauce will enhance the overall taste.
Tips from The Simple Way with Delilah’s video
- When cooking the ground beef, let it caramelize without stirring too much to develop flavor.
- Always taste your sauce as you go, adjusting seasonings and adding sugar if the sauce is too acidic.
- Layer the lasagna noodles slightly overlapping to ensure even cooking and coverage with sauce.
- Cover the baking dish with foil sprayed with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking during the first part of baking.
Good to know
- How long does it take to bake the lasagna?
- Bake the lasagna in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 90 minutes.
- What should I do if my sauce is too acidic?
- Taste your sauce and add sugar as needed to balance the acidity.
- Can I use a different type of pasta sauce?
- Yes, you can substitute marinara sauce with any pasta sauce like garlic and herb or tomato basil.
- What size casserole dish is recommended for this recipe?
- A 13x9.5 inch casserole dish is recommended for layering the lasagna.
No life story here — the video and the recipe are the whole point. All credit to The Simple Way with Delilah: watch the original on YouTube.
The recipe
Ingredients
Steps
- 1
Add ground beef to a skillet on high heat and let it cook without stirring until it begins to caramelize.
- 2
Chop down the beef with a spatula to ensure it's not too chunky.
- 3
Drain excess fat from the cooked beef.
- 4
Make a well in the center of the meat and add diced onions and seasonings, then stir together.
- 5
Cook until the onions are soft and the seasonings are fragrant, then add minced garlic.
- 6
Add marinara sauce and water to the skillet, stirring to combine.
- 7
Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning as needed, adding sugar if the sauce is too acidic.
- 8
Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and let the sauce simmer for about 30 minutes.
- 9
Add fresh parsley to the sauce before turning off the heat.
- 10
In a separate bowl, mix ricotta cheese with grated Parmesan, garlic powder, parsley, Cajun seasoning, black pepper, and salt. Add the egg last and mix well.
- 11
Spread a layer of meat sauce on the bottom of a 13x9.5 inch casserole dish to prevent noodles from sticking.
- 12
Layer lasagna noodles over the sauce, slightly overlapping them.
- 13
Add another layer of meat sauce, followed by grated Parmesan and mozzarella cheese.
- 14
Repeat layering with more noodles, meat sauce, and ricotta cheese until all ingredients are used, finishing with a layer of meat sauce and cheese on top.
- 15
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Cover the dish with foil sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.
- 16
Bake in the preheated oven for 90 minutes, then remove the foil and broil for 3 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
- 17
Let the lasagna rest for about 5 minutes before serving.
Heads up — we had to guess a little:
- The quantity of sugar is inferred based on common practice for balancing acidity in tomato sauces.
Credit where it’s due: this recipe was transcribed from The Simple Way with Delilah’s original video on YouTube. Follow them there — it’s their dish.
Are you The Simple Way with Delilah? Claim this page or ask us to take it down. Your call, always.
