This Classic Lasagna Recipe is a comfort food staple, filled with Italian sausage, spinach and a cheesy ricotta filling, you’ll fall in love with every bite.
Don’t let the thought of making homemade lasagna intimidate you. It’s actually SUPER EASY to put together and the results are phenomenal. My family loves this classic dish so much that I’ll typically prepare two 9×13 pans at the same time, then freeze one for later.
How To Make Homemade Lasagna
It’s all about the layers! I like to keep it simple by using the oven-ready lasagna noodles, which saves you tons of time in the process.
- Start by browning some Italian sausage on the stove top. Once you’re just about done cooking that, toss in a couple handfuls of baby spinach and let it cook down.
- Combine the ricotta cheese filling ingredients in a bowl and mix to combine.
- Now just layer your ingredients in a casserole dish and you’re all set!
Ricotta Cheese or Cottage Cheese?
When adding in that cheesy layer to your lasagna, do you reach for ricotta cheese or cottage cheese? My mother in law is a cottage cheese user, and it’s great… BUT – I’m all about the creamy texture of ricotta cheese. I like how it holds up when baked and doesn’t add any extra moisture to the lasagna.
PRO TIP: If you’re looking for a lasagna that slices nicely without having to serve it with a spoon, then you’re going to want to use ricotta cheese.
For my recipe, I’ve amped the cheese factor by adding in mozzarella cheese as well as parmesan cheese with the ricotta. Season it with salt, pepper, Italian herbs and garlic powder, then bind it all together with an egg.
How To Layer Lasagna Like a Pro
It’s incredibly easy to layer lasagna when you have all your ingredients ready to go.
- Start by spreading 1/2 cup marinara sauce on the bottom of your 9×13″ casserole dish.
- Lay 3 of your oven-ready lasagna noodles on top of the sauce.
- Spread half of your cheesy ricotta mixture over the top of the dry noodles.
- Sprinkle half of the sausage and spinach mixture over the top of the cheese, followed by 1 cup of marinara sauce.
- Lay 3 more lasagna noodles on top, followed by the remaining ricotta mixture and sausage/spinach combo.
- Top with 3 more lasagna noodles and the remainder of the marinara sauce.
How Long To Bake Lasagna?
The trick to making sure you have the best Lasagna is to cover with foil when baking. This will create steam inside the dish that’ll help to cook those noodles nice and tender.
When covered, you’ll bake for 45 minutes. Then you’ll remove the foil, top with mozzarella cheese and continue baking an additional 10 to 15 minutes, until the cheese on top is melted, for a total cook time of 60 minutes.
Tips & Variations:
- If you like your lasagna really saucy, increase the sauce by 1/2 cup per layer.
- Be sure to let your lasagna rest 10 to 15 minutes before slicing to get perfect slices.
- Feel free to leave out the spinach or replace with shredded zucchini. Just know that zucchini will add extra moisture to the dish.
- Swap the Italian sausage with turkey sausage or ground beef if desired. Or simply leave it out for a vegetarian lasagna.
- Try adding in a tablespoon of prepared basil pesto to the ricotta mixture for an extra boost of flavor!
Make Ahead Lasagna
What’s great about this recipe, is that you can easily prepare the lasagna up to 2 days in advance and refrigerate it until you’re ready to bake! I do this often when I know we’re having company, so I can prepare ahead of time and enjoy the company while they’re in town.
How To Freeze Lasagna
Like I said earlier, lasagna is one of my favorite dishes to make ahead and freeze for an easy weeknight dinner. I’ll prepare two of these casserole dishes, make one for dinner, then freeze the other for a later date.
- Simply layer the ingredients like you would in the recipe, but before baking, cover tightly with plastic wrap and a layer of foil, then freeze for up to 3 months.
- To bake Lasagna from frozen: remove foil and plastic wrap, then replace foil on top. Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 1/2 hours, remove foil, add cheese and finish baking until bubbly throughout.
What To Serve with Lasagna
- Garlic Breadsticks
- Parmesan Roasted Green Beans
- Caesar Salad
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Classic Lasagna Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb. Italian sausage, ground
- 4 handfuls baby spinach
- 15 oz ricotta cheese
- 2 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp Italian Seasoning
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 9 Lasagna noodles, oven ready/no boil
- 2 1/2 cups marinara sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Brown sausage in a large skillet, breaking up with a spoon until crumbled and no longer pink. Stir in spinach two handfuls at a time until it all wilts down. Remove from heat and set aside.
- In a bowl combine the ricotta, 1 cup of mozzarella, parmesan, egg, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Stir until combined.
- Spread 1/2 cup of marinara sauce on the bottom of a 9x13 inch casserole dish. Line 3 lasagna noodles on top of sauce, spread half of the ricotta mixture evenly over the noodles. Top with 1/2 of the sausage mixture. Spread 1 cup of marinara sauce over the sausage and top with 3 more noodles. Spread the remaining ricotta over the noodles, followed by the remaining sausage mixture. Top with the last 3 noodles and then the last cup of the marinara sauce.
- Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes. Remove foil and top with the remaining 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese then bake 15 minutes uncovered, until cheese is melted and bubbly throughout. Let stand for 10 to 15 minutes before cutting. Enjoy!
Notes
- Simply layer the ingredients as stated above, but before baking, cover tightly with plastic wrap and a layer of foil, then freeze for up to 3 months.
- To bake Lasagna from frozen: remove foil and plastic wrap, then replace foil on top. Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 1/2 hours, remove foil, add cheese and finish baking until bubbly throughout.
Paulina
I can not wait to make this. I love Lasagna. Looks so good.
Shawn
Hope you enjoy it!
Bennett Russell
Never before I covered lasagna with foil before. This came out great. Am glad I came across your recipe. Will save this one.
Shawn
Awesome! So glad you enjoyed the recipe Bennett!
Woodsy
What a great idea to put spinach in lasagna. My wife makes similar lasagna, but I’ll ask her to try the spinach next time around. Thanks. Looking forward to it!
Shawn
I love sneaking in the spinach for some extra iron and vitamins! 🙂
Cameron
Loved the addition of the pesto! Big hit with our whole family.
Shawn
So glad you enjoyed it Cameron! We love the flavor from the pesto too! 🙂
Kelsey
Thank you for the lasagna layer picture! Will be making this tonight.
Shawn
Hope you enjoy it!
Maria G.
I have the similar recipe and I should say that lasagna is my favorite dish. It is the tastiest thing ever. The only thing that stops me from eating it too often is the amount of calories.
CTY
This indeed can be considered a classic recipe. The best part–ingredients can be swapped out to use homemade or store bought; I like to add thin zucchini slices. Also ricotta cheese or cottage cheese can be used (depending on which is on sale). Whenever I make lasagna I make 2 pans and put one (unbaked) in the freezer.
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes)
Your lasagna seriously looks absolutely perfect! I am the biggest fan of lasagna!! Delish!
Shawn
Thanks Jocelyn! 🙂
KELLY
Hi. The three lasagna noodles did not cover the 9×13. Use more noodles? Or supposed to have room on the side?
Shawn
If you have more room in your casserole dish, you can add more noodles!