EASY Lasagna Recipe

This EASY Lasagna Recipe is beefy, saucy and supremely flavorful. Homemade lasagna is better than any restaurant version and it feeds a crowd for way less than going out to eat.



Ingredients

Ingredients for Lasagna

• 1 lb ground beef (15-20% fat content)
• 1 small onion finely diced
• 2 large garlic cloves minced
• 1/4 cup red wine (any kind), or beef broth
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 24 oz Marinara Sauce (3 cups)
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper ground
• 1/4 tsp dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp granulated sugar
• 2 Tbsp parsley finely chopped
• 9 lasagna noodles cooked al dente

Ingredients for Cheese Sauce:

• 16 oz low-fat cottage cheese
• 15 oz reduced fat ricotta cheese
• 1 large egg
• 2 Tbsp parsley finely chopped, plus more to garnish
• 4 cups mozzarella cheese shredded, divided  

Instructions

How to Make Meat Sauce:

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. 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:

• 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. 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.
2. Spread 1/2 cup meat sauce in the bottom of a deep 9x13 casserole dish.
3. Add 3 noodles, spread on 1/3 of the meat sauce and sprinkle with 1 cup mozarella cheese. Spoon on and spread the top with 1/2 of your cheese sauce.
4. Repeat until you have 3 layers of noodles:
5. Add 3 noodles, 1/3 meat sauce, 1 cup mozarella cheese, 1/2 cheese sauce
6. Add 3 noodles, remaining 1/3 meat sauce, remaining 1 cup mozarella.
7. 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.
8. Remove foil and broil for 3 to 5 minutes, or until cheese turns golden. Let lasagna rest 30 min before slicing.