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.
Table of Contents
Classic Meat Lasagna Recipe: A Hearty and Cheesy Crowd-Pleaser If you’re on a quest to find the ultimate lasagna recipe that’s loaded with cheese, brimming with al dente pasta sheets, and doused in a rich meaty tomato sauce, your search ends here. This meat lasagna is guaranteed to win over any carnivore’s heart and keep your family coming back for more.
Raising two teenage boys who played football meant being faced with insatiable appetites daily. Feeding them and their equally famished friends who lived nearby became a familiar routine. Thankfully, this meaty, cheesy lasagna was always a lifesaver.
Ricotta vs. Bechamel Sauce:
Lasagna recipes vary globally, and the choice of using 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 personal 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.
Preparation
-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
-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.
-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.
-Add 1 cup of fresh chopped basil and mix it in with the meat tomato sauce.
-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.
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!
Please Support The SiteHome Cooking is Easy!With These Minimalist Kitchen Essentials
Ingredients:
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
Recipe Tips & Suggestions
Rana’s Notes!
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.
Have You Tried This American Recipe?
If So, Mention Us @ranasrecipe
Or Use Hashtag #ranasrecipe
Let’s Start Cooking With Love!
Tell Me How I’m Doing?
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!