Classic Meat Lasagna Recipe

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Published: 4/20/2022

Updated: 11/30/2023

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Get ready to indulge in a comforting and flavorful dish with my Best Meat Lasagna Recipe. Layers of tender noodles, rich meat sauce, and a cheesy blend of mozzarella, ricotta, and parmesan make this classic Italian favorite a crowd-pleaser every time.

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Type of Cuisine:

American

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Prep Time: 1 hour.

Cook Time: 45 minutes

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How Many Servings?

8 servings

Table of Contents

If you’re searching for a classic meat lasagna Recipe that’s brimming with cheese, layered with perfectly cooked pasta sheets, and generously coated in a rich, meaty tomato sauce, your search ends here. This meat lasagna is more than just a meal; it’s a culinary masterpiece that’s bound to capture the hearts and appetites of your loved ones.

As a parent to two teenage boys, both avid football players with bottomless appetites, I know the challenges of satisfying growing and hungry young adults. Feeding them and their equally ravenous friends from the neighborhood became a daily ritual. That’s where this meaty, cheesy lasagna came to the rescue time and time again.

Lasagna Recipe Ingredients:

  • Olive Oil: Provides a flavorful base for sautéing and adds richness to the dish.
  • Onions (small, chopped): Enhances the savory foundation of the sauce.
  • Garlic (cloves, smashed): Infuses a robust, aromatic essence into the sauce.
  • Ground Beef: Offers hearty, meaty flavor.
  • Ground Lamb or Pork: Adds a unique depth and richness to the meat layer.
  • Salt and Black Pepper: Seasonings that elevate the overall taste profile.
  • Dry Basil (plus 1 cup of fresh chopped basil): This brings herbal notes, and the fresh basil adds a burst of aromatic freshness.
  • Italian Seasoning: A harmonious blend of herbs for an authentic Italian flavor.
  • Celery (chopped): Provides a subtle, earthy undertone to the sauce.
  • Carrots (peeled and chopped): Adds natural sweetness and texture to the sauce.
  • Crushed Tomatoes: Form the rich, tomatoey base of the sauce.
  • Tomato Paste (dissolved in ¼ cup of warm water): Intensifies the tomato flavor and thickens the sauce.
  • Lasagna Sheets: The foundation for layering the delicious components.
  • Shredded Mozzarella: Melts into gooey, cheesy layers.
  • Ricotta Cheese: Contributes a creamy, indulgent texture to the dish.
  • Parmesan Cheese (extra to sprinkle on top when finished): Adds a sharp, savory kick and enhances the baked cheese topping.

Ricotta vs. Bechamel Sauce

Lasagna recipes vary globally, and choosing to use ricotta or bechamel sauce for that creamy layer is a regional preference in Italy. Bechamel-laden lasagna hails from the northern region of Emilia-Romagna, while the ricotta-stuffed variant is a southern Campania specialty. Both are authentic and undoubtedly delicious, but my favorite is ricotta-infused lasagna.

Tailoring Your Meat Lasagna Recipe

Lasagna is highly adaptable to your preferences or dietary restrictions. Consider these variations:

  • Meatless Lasagna: Swap the ground beef with a medley of vegetables like spinach, mushrooms, or roasted bell peppers. Crumbled tofu or tempeh can also serve as a protein-rich meat substitute. Pro Tip: Season your vegetables with herbs like basil, oregano, and thyme for enhanced flavor.
  • Vegan Lasagna: Replace dairy ingredients with vegan alternatives like tofu ricotta or cashew cheese. Adding a layer of roasted veggies like eggplant or zucchini can introduce exciting textures. Pro Tip: Blend cashews with nutritional yeast and water for a creamier texture to create a vegan cheese sauce.
  • Keto Lasagna: Opt for thinly sliced veggies like zucchini or eggplant instead of pasta sheets. You could also add spinach or kale for an extra nutritional kick. Pro Tip: Add a layer of ground beef, turkey, or pork for a more satiating dish.

Serving Suggestions for Meat Lasagna

Perfect Pairings for Your Meat Lasagna Lasagna is a comfort food classic, and what better to serve alongside it than some crispy, buttery garlic bread? It’s the perfect companion for a slice of this meaty treat.

Consider a salad for a lighter, fresher contrast to the lasagna’s richness. A zesty arugula salad or an apple kale salad with a tangy dressing can balance the lasagna’s hearty flavors. Not only do these salads add a refreshing element, but they also pack in essential nutrients, making your meal even healthier.

The beauty of lasagna lies in its adaptability. Whether you prefer the classic combination with garlic bread or a lighter salad pairing, homemade meat lasagna will always be your meal’s comforting, delicious centerpiece.

How to Make Classic Meat Lasagna Recipe
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Preparation

1.
ingredients
Make the meat sauce:
-In a large Dutch oven, drizzle some olive oil and sauté one chopped onion on medium heat for 2 minutes.
-Add three cloves of smashed garlic and cook for another minute.
-Add the ground beef and lamb or pork to the Dutch oven and break it down with a wooden spatula.
-Add 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of pepper, and 1 teaspoon of dry basil. Cook for 5 minutes, breaking apart the meat as it cooks.
Remove the meat mixture and place it into a separate bowl
Mark as complete
2.
tomatoes
-Add another drizzle of olive oil and chopped onion in the same Dutch oven. Sauté for 2 minutes.
-Add chopped celery and carrots. Sauté for another 2 minutes.
-Add three cloves of smashed garlic and sauté for another minute.
-Add three cans of crushed tomatoes, 1 teaspoon of basil, 2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning, 2 teaspoons of salt, and 2 teaspoons of pepper. Mix well.
-Let the sauce come to a boil, then add 2 tablespoons of tomato paste dissolved in ¼ cup of warm water. Mix well.
-Lower the heat and let the sauce simmer for 45 minutes.
Reserve ½ cup of tomato sauce for later use.
Mark as complete
3.
simmer
-In the same Dutch oven, add another drizzle of olive oil and another chopped onion. Sauté for 2 minutes.
-Add chopped celery and carrots. Sauté for another 2 minutes.
-Add three cloves of smashed garlic and sauté for another minute.
-Add three cans of crushed tomatoes, 1 teaspoon of basil, 2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning, 2 teaspoons of salt, and 2 teaspoons of pepper. Mix well.
-Let the sauce come to a boil, then add 2 tablespoons of tomato paste dissolved in ¼ cup of warm water. Mix well.
-Lower the heat and let the sauce simmer for 45 minutes.
-Reserve ½ cup of tomato sauce for later use.

Mark as complete
4.
cooked meat
-Add the cooked ground meat to the tomato sauce, mix well, and cook for another 15 minutes.
-Add 1 cup of fresh chopped basil and mix it in with the meat tomato sauce.
Mark as complete
5.
cheese mixture
The cheese mixture:

-Add ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan cheese to a large bowl.
Mix the cheeses together.
Add 1 teaspoon of salt and pepper and mix the mixture.

Preheat the oven to 375 F before assembling the lasagna.
Mark as complete
6.
lasagne
Assemble the lasagna:
Cook the lasagna sheets according to the package instructions.
Mix 3 cups of shredded mozzarella, 3 cups of ricotta cheese, and 2 cups of grated parmesan cheese in a separate bowl.
In a 9x13-inch baking dish, spread a layer of reserved tomato sauce on the bottom.
Add a layer of cooked lasagna sheets on top of the tomato sauce.
Add a layer of the cheese mixture on top of the lasagna sheets.
Add another layer of cooked lasagna sheets on top of the cheese mixture.
Add another layer of tomato sauce on top of the lasagna sheets.
Repeat the layers of cheese mixture, lasagna sheets, and tomato sauce until all the ingredients are used.
Sprinkle some extra parmesan cheese on top.
Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
Remove the foil and bake for 25 minutes or until the cheese is golden brown and bubbly.
Let the lasagna cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving. Enjoy!
Mark as complete

Ingredients:

1X 2X 3X
Adjust Servings
2 tablespoons Olive oil
2 small onions, chopped separately
6 cloves of garlic, smashed (keep each three separate)
1 lb of ground beef
1 lb of ground lamb or pork
2 teaspoons of salt
1 teaspoons of black pepper
1 teaspoon of dry basil, plus 1 cup of fresh chopped basil
2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning
3 sticks of celery, chopped
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
Three 28 oz cans of crushed tomatoes
2 tablespoons of tomato paste dissolved in ¼ cup of warm water
12 Lasagna sheets
3 cups of shredded mozzarella
3 cups of ricotta cheese
2 cups of parmesan cheese (extra to sprinkle on top when finished)

Preparation

1
Make the meat sauce: -In a large Dutch oven, drizzle some olive oil and sauté one chopped onion on medium heat for 2 minutes. -Add three cloves of smashed garlic and cook for another minute. -Add the ground beef and lamb or pork to the Dutch oven and break it down with a wooden spatula. -Add 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of pepper, and 1 teaspoon of dry basil. Cook for 5 minutes, breaking apart the meat as it cooks. Remove the meat mixture and place it into a separate bowl
2
-Add another drizzle of olive oil and chopped onion in the same Dutch oven. Sauté for 2 minutes. -Add chopped celery and carrots. Sauté for another 2 minutes. -Add three cloves of smashed garlic and sauté for another minute. -Add three cans of crushed tomatoes, 1 teaspoon of basil, 2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning, 2 teaspoons of salt, and 2 teaspoons of pepper. Mix well. -Let the sauce come to a boil, then add 2 tablespoons of tomato paste dissolved in ¼ cup of warm water. Mix well. -Lower the heat and let the sauce simmer for 45 minutes. Reserve ½ cup of tomato sauce for later use.
3
-In the same Dutch oven, add another drizzle of olive oil and another chopped onion. Sauté for 2 minutes. -Add chopped celery and carrots. Sauté for another 2 minutes. -Add three cloves of smashed garlic and sauté for another minute. -Add three cans of crushed tomatoes, 1 teaspoon of basil, 2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning, 2 teaspoons of salt, and 2 teaspoons of pepper. Mix well. -Let the sauce come to a boil, then add 2 tablespoons of tomato paste dissolved in ¼ cup of warm water. Mix well. -Lower the heat and let the sauce simmer for 45 minutes. -Reserve ½ cup of tomato sauce for later use.
4
-Add the cooked ground meat to the tomato sauce, mix well, and cook for another 15 minutes. -Add 1 cup of fresh chopped basil and mix it in with the meat tomato sauce.
5
The cheese mixture: -Add ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan cheese to a large bowl. Mix the cheeses together. Add 1 teaspoon of salt and pepper and mix the mixture. Preheat the oven to 375 F before assembling the lasagna.
6
Assemble the lasagna: Cook the lasagna sheets according to the package instructions. Mix 3 cups of shredded mozzarella, 3 cups of ricotta cheese, and 2 cups of grated parmesan cheese in a separate bowl. In a 9x13-inch baking dish, spread a layer of reserved tomato sauce on the bottom. Add a layer of cooked lasagna sheets on top of the tomato sauce. Add a layer of the cheese mixture on top of the lasagna sheets. Add another layer of cooked lasagna sheets on top of the cheese mixture. Add another layer of tomato sauce on top of the lasagna sheets. Repeat the layers of cheese mixture, lasagna sheets, and tomato sauce until all the ingredients are used. Sprinkle some extra parmesan cheese on top. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for 25 minutes or until the cheese is golden brown and bubbly. Let the lasagna cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving. Enjoy!

Recipe Tips & Suggestions

If you don't have fresh tomatoes, use crushed tomatoes in a can and add a couple of tablespoons of tomato paste to give it extra richness in flavor and color.

Cook the ground meat first, remove it, and use the same pot for tomato sauce. Once the sauce is finished, combine them and cook the meat sauce for another 30 minutes. This allows the flavors to come together.

Mix one pound of ground beef and one pound of lamb for the meat, or substitute the lamb with any Italian sweet sausages or ground pork.

For the cheese, use a combination of ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan.

Let the lasagna rest for at least 10-15 minutes after it's done cooking to allow the layers to settle and for easier slicing. Use oven-ready lasagna sheets for convenience, or cook traditional lasagna sheets al dente before layering.

Cover the lasagna with foil while baking to prevent the cheese from burning, and remove the foil during the last 10-15 minutes of baking to allow the cheese to brown and get crispy.

Rana’s Notes!

Lasagna is an excellent food for meal prep since it seems to get even tastier when you eat it the next day! Refrigerator: This meat lasagna can last in the fridge for about a week. Keep it in an airtight container and simply reheat the slices in the microwave when you are ready to eat it again. Freezer: The lasagna will taste best if it is frozen after being assembled but before it has been baked. This will prevent the noodles from getting soggy, and the cheese will be crispier when it is only baked once. To freeze an unbaked lasagna, let it cool to room temperature and freeze the entire casserole wrapped in foil. It will last up to a month in the freezer. If you have already baked the lasagna, you can still freeze it. Let the lasagna cool down to room temperature and place the lasagna slices into freezer-safe food containers. Lasagna that has already been baked will also last up to a month in the freezer.

Nutrition Information

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist's advice.
See our full nutrition disclosure here.

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By Rana

Thanks for visiting my Mediterranean food blog and welcome to my virtual kitchen! Here, you’ll find mouth-watering, wholesome, and nutritious Mediterranean recipes that will change the way you view cooking.

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    So that is my famous lasagna recipe! Let me know what you think of the recipe in the comments below. What meat did you use? Did you try adding a new cheese? I want to hear it all!

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