Best Classic Lasagna Recipe (2024)

Beef | Comfort Food | Main Courses | Pork | Recipes

ByMelissa Riker Updated

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This simple, no-fuss, no boil lasagna recipe is simply the best there is. Oven ready noodles are layered with Italian sausage and ground beef, along with loads of cheese make this a dinner recipe you’ll turn to again and again.

Best Classic Lasagna Recipe (1)

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There’s something about lasagna that makes it the ultimate comfort food, don’t you think?

This is the best classic lasagna recipe I’ve tried yet-thick and firm with flavorful meat sauce and plenty of cheese!

This isn’t the kind of lasagna that loses it’s layers when you cut a piece, with noodles sliding all over the place…no way-it’s thick, sturdy and everything a good lasagna should be!

Why I love this recipe

  • With both ground Italian sausage and ground beef, this is a meat lover’s lasagna recipe if every there was one!
  • Using oven ready no boil noodles makes it faster to assemble.
  • It is perfect for preparing ahead of time for guests. Simply bake and serve with a salad to impress guests.
  • It freezes and reheats well.
  • It is filling and hearty and packed with flavor thanks to the secret addition of pesto sauce (there are SO many ways to use pesto!)

Ingredients

  • no boil lasagna noodles
  • spaghetti sauce
  • mild Italian sausage
  • ground beef
  • ricotta cheese
  • shredded mozzarella cheese
  • shredded Parmesan cheese
  • pesto (I prefer Buitoni brand or fresh homemade pesto)
  • eggs

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. In a large pan, brown ground beef and sausage, set aside in a large bowl.
  3. Add pesto to meat and mix well.
  4. Add spaghetti sauce to meat mixture and combine.
  5. In a separate bowl combine ricotta, eggs, 1/2 of mozzarella, and 1/2 of Parmesan.
  6. Spoon one cup of sauce mixture in the bottom of a 9 by 13 pan.
  7. Top with lasagna noodles then half of the cheese mixture, then 1/3 remaining sauce mixture.
  8. Repeat layers of noodles, remaining cheese mixture, additional 1/3 meat sauce.
  9. Top with remaining sauce and cover with foil.
  10. Bake for one hour.
  11. Remove foil, top with remaining Parmesan and mozzarella cheese and cook additional 5 minutes until cheese is golden and bubbly.
  12. Let sit 15 minutes prior to serving.

FAQs

How many servings are in a 9×13 inch pan of lasagna?

In general a 9 by 13 inch pan will give 8 medium sized servings. You will need to adjust depending on the appetites of the people you are serving.

How do you tell when lasagna is done?

The easiest way to tell your lasagna is done is to use a meat thermometer to ensure it has reached 165F.
The top should be golden brown and the sauce bubbling. A toothpick or fork inserted in the middle will go in easily through the noodles.

How long do you let lasagna cool after baking before serving?

Allow the lasagna to sit for at least 15 minutes after taking it out of the oven. This allows the layers to set as it cools and prevents you from having a runny mess when you slice it.

How to cut lasagna so it doesn’t fall apart?

The key is to let it set up at least 15 minutes before slicing. When ready to serve use a chef’s knife to slice it and a broad, flexible spatula that can fully reach under each slice. (affiliate link)

Serving suggestions

There are a ton of great options for what to serve with lasagna! I like to keep it simple with a side salad or Caesar salad and garlic bread or Texas toast but you can try minestrone soup, roasted vegetables, or Italian broccoli too.

If you try this recipe please comment and rate it below, I love hearing from you!

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Best Classic Lasagna Recipe (2)

Classic Lasagna Recipe with No Boil Noodles

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 2 reviews

  • Author: Melissa Riker
  • Total Time: 1 hour 25 mins
  • Yield: 10 1x
Print Recipe

Description

This simple, no-fuss lasagna recipe is simply the best there is. Layers of Italian sausage, ground beef, and loads of cheese make this a dinner recipe you’ll turn to again and again.

Ingredients

Units Scale

  • 1 12 oz package no boil lasagna noodles
  • 2 24 oz cans spaghetti sauce
  • 1 lb mild Italian sausage
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 2 cups ricotta cheese
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tbsp pesto (I prefer Buitoni brand)
  • 2 eggs

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. In a large pan, brown ground beef and sausage, set aside in a large bowl.
  3. Add pesto to meat and mix well.
  4. Add spaghetti sauce to meat mixture and combine.
  5. In a separate bowl combine ricotta, eggs, 1/2 of mozzarella, and 1/2 of Parmesan.
  6. Spoon one cup of sauce mixture in the bottom of a 9 by 13 pan.
  7. Top with lasagna noodles then half of the cheese mixture, then 1/3 remaining sauce mixture.
  8. Repeat layers of noodles, remaining cheese mixture, additional 1/3 meat sauce.
  9. Top with remaining sauce and cover with foil.
  10. Bake for one hour.
  11. Remove foil, top with remaining Parmesan and mozzarella cheese and cook additional 5 minutes until cheese is golden and bubbly.
  12. Let sit 15 minutes prior to serving.
  • Prep Time: 20 mins
  • Cook Time: 65 mins
  • Category: dinner
  • Method: baking
  • Cuisine: italian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 541
  • Sugar: 6.4 g
  • Sodium: 1189 mg
  • Fat: 26.1 g
  • Carbohydrates: 36.5 g
  • Protein: 37 g
  • Cholesterol: 133.3 mg

What is your favorite comfort food? Do you like lasagna as much as I do?

Best Classic Lasagna Recipe (3)

Melissa Riker

Melissa Riker is a recipe developer and online content creator who has been sharing kitchen-tested recipes since 2011. Her passion (other than wine and cheese!) is creating reliable, no-fail recipes for home cooks.

Best Classic Lasagna Recipe (2024)
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