Name: The Ultimate Beef Lasagna
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 1 h 10 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 pound Ground Beef; 1 medium Yellow Onion, finely chopped; 3 Garlic Cloves, minced; 1 can (28 oz) Crushed Tomatoes; 2 tablespoons Tomato Paste; 2 tablespoons Olive Oil; Salt and Pepper to taste; 1 teaspoon Dried Oregano; 1 teaspoon Dried Basil; 1½ cups Ricotta Cheese; 1 large Egg; 2 cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese; ¾ cup Grated Parmesan Cheese; 12 Lasagna Noodles (cooked or oven-ready); 2 cups Whole Milk; 4 tablespoons Butter; 4 tablespoons All-Purpose Flour

Description

A hearty, comforting beef lasagna layered with rich meat sauce, creamy béchamel, tender pasta sheets, and melty cheeses. Perfect for family dinners or make-ahead meals.

Ingredients

Scale

1 pound Ground Beef
1 medium Yellow Onion, finely chopped
3 Garlic Cloves, minced
1 can (28 oz) Crushed Tomatoes
2 tablespoons Tomato Paste
2 tablespoons Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 teaspoon Dried Oregano
1 teaspoon Dried Basil
1½ cups Ricotta Cheese
1 large Egg
2 cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
¾ cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
12 Lasagna Noodles (cooked or oven-ready)
2 cups Whole Milk
4 tablespoons Butter
4 tablespoons All-Purpose Flour

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 375°F and lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish.
In a skillet, heat olive oil and sauté onion until soft. Add garlic and ground beef, cooking until browned. Stir in tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 20 minutes.
In a saucepan, melt butter, whisk in flour to form a roux. Slowly add milk, whisking constantly until thick. Season lightly with salt.
In a bowl, mix ricotta cheese with the egg.
Layer a thin meat sauce on the baking dish base. Add noodles, meat sauce, béchamel, ricotta mixture, mozzarella, and parmesan. Repeat layers, finishing with cheese.
Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Uncover and bake another 15 minutes until bubbly and golden.
Let rest 15 minutes before slicing. Garnish with fresh herbs if desired and serve warm.

Notes

Use freshly grated cheese for best texture and flavor.
Let the lasagna rest after baking to set the layers.
Can be made a day ahead and reheated for even better flavor.
Oven-ready noodles save time and work well in this recipe.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 slice
Calories: 460
Sugar: 6g
Sodium: 780mg
Fat: 25g
Saturated Fat: 11g
Unsaturated Fat: 10g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 35g
Fiber: 3g
Protein: 28g
Cholesterol: 95mg

Keywords: beef lasagna, classic lasagna, Italian comfort food, easy lasagna, make-ahead lasagna