Lasagna with Ricotta Cheese
Delicious and creamy lasagna layered with ricotta cheese, rich tomato sauce, and melted mozzarella for a comforting Italian classic.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 60 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 lasagna noodles
- 2 cups ricotta cheese
- 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 4 cups marinara sauce
- 1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage (optional)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook lasagna noodles according to package instructions until al dente; drain and set aside.
- In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; sauté until translucent.
- Add ground beef or sausage, cook until browned; drain excess fat.
- Stir in marinara sauce, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper; simmer for 10 minutes.
- In a baking dish, spread a thin layer of meat sauce.
- Layer 4 noodles over sauce, then spread half of the ricotta cheese, followed by one-third of the mozzarella and sauce.
- Repeat layers ending with noodles topped with remaining sauce and mozzarella. Sprinkle Parmesan on top.
- Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 15 minutes until bubbly and golden.
- Let stand for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
For a vegetarian version, omit the meat and add sautéed vegetables like spinach or mushrooms to the sauce.