traditional lasagna

Here’s a hearty Traditional Lasagna recipe — layers of pasta, rich meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and gooey cheese, just like the Italian classic.

🥘 Ingredients (9×13 pan, 8 servings):

For the Meat Sauce:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 pound ground beef (or half beef, half Italian sausage)

• 1 medium onion, finely chopped

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes

• 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce

• 2 tablespoons tomato paste

• 2 teaspoons sugar (balances acidity)

• 2 teaspoons dried basil (or 1 tbsp fresh)

• 1 teaspoon dried oregano

• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

• Salt & black pepper, to taste

For the Cheese Layer:

• 15 oz ricotta cheese (or cottage cheese, drained)

• 1 large egg

• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

For the Pasta:

• 12 lasagna noodles (regular or oven-ready)

• Extra mozzarella & Parmesan for topping

👩‍🍳 Instructions:

1. Make the Meat Sauce

   • Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Add onion and cook until soft.

   • Add ground beef/sausage, cook until browned. Drain excess fat.

   • Stir in garlic, tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, sugar, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper.

   • Simmer on low for 25–30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

2. Prepare Cheese Mixture

   • In a bowl, mix ricotta, egg, Parmesan, and 1 cup mozzarella until creamy.

3. Cook Noodles (if not oven-ready)

   • Boil noodles in salted water until al dente. Drain and lay flat on a sheet to prevent sticking.

4. Assemble Lasagna

   • Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).

   • Spread a thin layer of sauce on the bottom of a greased 9×13 dish.

   • Layer:

     1. 3 noodles

     2. ⅓ of ricotta mixture

     3. ⅓ of meat sauce

     4. Sprinkle mozzarella

   • Repeat 3 times, finishing with sauce and extra mozzarella + Parmesan on top.

5. Bake

   • Cover with foil (to prevent burning).

   • Bake 25 minutes, then uncover and bake another 20 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden.

6. Rest & Serve