Easy Weeknight Lasagna
Enjoy a delicious and easy lasagna perfect for a weeknight meal. This recipe features a savory meat sauce, creamy ricotta mixture, and layers of no-boil noodles, all baked to golden perfection.
Equipment
- large skillet or Dutch oven
- medium bowl
- 9x13 inch baking dish
Ingredients
Meat Sauce
- 1 lb lean ground beef or Italian sausage
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion chopped
- 2-3 cloves garlic minced
- 24-26 oz jar marinara sauce
- 1/2 cup water or beef broth
Ricotta Mixture
- 15 oz container ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese plus more for topping
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Other
- 9-12 no-boil lasagna noodles
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- Fresh parsley chopped (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
Preparation
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Add ground meat and chopped onion; cook until browned and onion is softened, then drain excess fat.
- Stir in minced garlic, then add marinara sauce and water; simmer gently on low heat while preparing the cheese mixture.
- In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper until smooth.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Spread 1/2 cup of meat sauce on the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
Assembly
- Place 3-4 no-boil lasagna noodles over the sauce, then spread half of the ricotta mixture over the noodles.
- Top with one-third of the remaining meat sauce and one-third of the mozzarella cheese.
- Repeat the layering sequence with noodles, remaining ricotta, another third of meat sauce, and another third of mozzarella.
- Finish with a final layer of noodles, the last of the meat sauce, and the remaining mozzarella cheese.
Baking and Serving
- Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden brown.
- Let the lasagna rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
For a richer flavor, consider using beef broth instead of water in the meat sauce. If you prefer a spicier lasagna, use hot Italian sausage. Make sure to let the lasagna rest before serving to ensure the layers set properly and don't fall apart when cut.