Easy, comforting ground beef lasagna with layers of rich, savory meat sauce, creamy ricotta filling, and generous melty mozzarella—all made with supermarket staples and foolproof techniques that guarantee bubbly, sliceable perfection every time. This home-cook-friendly version delivers authentic Italian-American flavor without hours of simmering or complicated steps. Ready in about 1.5 hours total with make-ahead ease, it feeds a crowd or provides delicious leftovers all week.
Why This Ground Beef Lasagna Will Be Your New Go-To Comfort Food
Classic lasagna magic comes from perfectly balanced layers: robust meat sauce infused with garlic-onion depth, creamy ricotta-egg binding that holds structure without weeping, and mozzarella that melts into golden pull-apart strands. No-boil noodle option saves 20 minutes prep while absorbing sauce flavors during baking. Strategic assembly—sauce bottom prevents sticking, cheese top browns beautifully—creates restaurant-worthy slices that hold shape hot or cold.
Forgiving recipe works for beginners (measured ingredients guarantee success) and pros (endless customization). Freezes beautifully assembled or baked, reheats without sogginess when done right.
Ingredients
For the Meat Sauce:
- 1 lb ground beef (85% lean balances flavor/moisture perfectly)
- 1 small yellow onion, finely diced (1/2 cup—sweetens sauce base)
- 2-3 cloves garlic, minced (builds savory depth)
- 24 oz quality marinara or crushed tomatoes ( Rao’s/ jarred Italian ideal)
- 1 tsp dried basil + 1 tsp oregano (classic Italian herb balance)
- 1 tsp kosher salt + 1/2 tsp black pepper (season throughout cooking)
For the Cheese Layer:
- 15 oz whole milk ricotta, drained 30 min (prevents watery layers)
- 2 cups low-moisture mozzarella, shredded, divided (melts without excess moisture)
- 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp grated Parmesan (nutty sharpness)
- 1 large egg + 1/2 tsp salt (binds ricotta perfectly)
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley or basil, chopped (bright herbal note)
For Assembly:
- 12 no-boil lasagna noodles OR 9-12 traditional boiled al dente
- Fresh basil leaves + extra Parmesan for garnish
Equipment Needed
- 12-inch skillet or Dutch oven (meat sauce development)
- 8-quart pot (noodle boiling if not no-boil)
- 9×13-inch glass/metal baking dish (lightly greased)
- Medium mixing bowl + rubber spatula
- Wooden spoon + offset spatula (layering precision)
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Cook the Meat Sauce
Heat large skillet over medium-high, add 1 lb ground beef, breaking into small crumbles with wooden spoon—cook undisturbed 2 minutes for browning, then stir continuously until no pink remains (8-10 min total). Push meat to sides, add diced onion to center with pinch salt—sauté 4 minutes until translucent and sweet, add minced garlic last 30 seconds until fragrant (don’t burn). Drain excess fat if more than 2 tbsp remains.
Pour in 24 oz marinara, 1 tsp each basil/oregano, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper—scrape browned bits, stir thoroughly. Reduce to simmer (gentle bubbles), cover partially, cook 15-20 minutes stirring occasionally until thickened slightly and flavors meld—taste, adjust salt. Sauce should generously coat spoon back. Remove from heat, cool 10 minutes for easier assembly.
Step 2: Make the Cheese Filling
Drain ricotta 30 minutes in fine mesh strainer over bowl (removes excess whey for firm layers). In medium bowl, whisk 1 egg + 1/2 tsp salt until homogenous, add drained ricotta, 1 cup shredded mozzarella, 1/4 cup Parmesan, chopped parsley—fold gently with rubber spatula until creamy smooth (30-45 seconds max, avoid overmixing). Mixture should mound on spoon without dripping. Taste (raw egg safe in small amounts), adjust salt. Cover, refrigerate until assembly.
Step 3: Cook Noodles & Preheat Oven
If using traditional noodles: boil large pot salted water, cook lasagna sheets al dente (1 minute less package time)—stir occasionally, drain immediately, rinse cold water, toss lightly oiled to prevent sticking. No-boil noodles skip this—sauce moisture cooks them perfectly. Preheat oven 375°F (190°C), position rack middle, lightly grease 9×13 baking dish with oil spray.
Step 4: Assemble the Lasagna Layers
- Spread 3/4-1 cup meat sauce evenly across bottom dish (prevents sticking/burning).
- Layer 3-4 noodles edge-to-edge (trim to fit if needed, slight overlap ok).
- Dollop 1/3 cheese mixture (about 3/4 cup) in even mounds, spread gently to edges with offset spatula.
- Spoon 1/3 remaining meat sauce (generous 1 cup) evenly over cheese to cover completely.
- Repeat layers 2 more times (noodles-cheese-sauce). Final layer: spread remaining sauce, scatter 1 cup mozzarella + 2 tbsp Parmesan evenly.
Step 5: Bake to Golden Perfection
Tightly cover dish with foil (spray dull side oil if sticking concern). Bake 45 minutes middle rack—sauce bubbles gently at edges. Remove foil carefully (steam hot), bake uncovered 15-20 minutes until cheese deeply golden, bubbling vigorously, edges caramelized slightly. If extra browning needed, broil 1-2 minutes top rack watching constantly. Internal temp 165°F+ safe.
Rest 15-20 minutes on wire rack (crucial—allows layers to set for clean slicing). Garnish fresh basil ribbons, extra Parmesan. Cut 3×4 portions with sharp knife for picture-perfect slices.
Tips for Perfect Lasagna Every Time
- No-boil noodles absorb sauce flavor—no pre-boiling, same perfect texture.
- Veggie boost: 8 oz sautéed mushrooms/spinach layer 3—drain well first.
- Extra moist: increase sauce 25% or add 1/2 cup beef broth to meat sauce.
- Freeze assembled (foil-covered dish) up to 3 months—thaw overnight, bake +15 min.
- Reheat slices 350°F covered foil 20-25 min—crisp top under broiler 2 min.
FAQs
Make-ahead success? Assemble completely, refrigerate overnight (tightly wrapped) or freeze 3 months—add 10-15 min bake time straight from fridge/freezer.
Best cheese combo? Ricotta creaminess + mozzarella melt + Parmesan sharpness unbeatable; add 4 oz provolone between layers for smoky stretch.
Ground turkey swap? Yes—85/15 turkey works, add 1 tsp fennel seed + extra 1/2 tsp salt for beefy flavor compensation.
Join the Conversation
Tried this lasagna? Share your customizations, perfect slice photos, or questions below! Rate 5-stars if it became your go-to and subscribe for more foolproof comfort food favorites.
