The Only Easy Lasagna Recipe You Will Ever Want To Make

Q: What are the correct layers of a lasagna?

The correct layering sequence for a classic lasagna starts with a thin layer of sauce on the bottom of the dish to prevent sticking. From there, the typical order is: noodles, ricotta cheese mixture, and meat sauce. Repeat these layers, finishing with a final layer of noodles, sauce, and a generous topping of mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.

Q: Can I assemble this easy lasagna the day before baking?

Absolutely! This recipe is perfect for making ahead. You can assemble the entire lasagna, cover it tightly with plastic wrap or foil, and refrigerate it for up to 2 days. When you're ready to bake, you may need to add 10-15 minutes to the initial covered baking time since it will be starting from cold.

Do you crave that cheesy, saucy, bubbling goodness of homemade lasagna but shudder at the thought of a multi-hour, multi-pot kitchen marathon? You’re not alone. The idea of a classic lasagna often brings to mind a full day of simmering sauces and boiling noodles, a project reserved for a special Sunday, not a busy weeknight.

Many traditional recipes are intimidating, calling for complex, from-scratch sauces and a mountain of dishes. You want to give your family that incredible, comforting meal, but you simply don’t have the time or energy to spare. You need a recipe that delivers all the flavor without the fuss, one that doesn’t compromise on taste for the sake of convenience.

This easy lasagna recipe simplifies the classic by using no-boil noodles and a quality store-bought marinara sauce. The result is a savory, cheesy, and comforting meal with rich layers of meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and melty mozzarella, ready in a fraction of the traditional time. After testing countless ‘easy’ versions, we’ve perfected the method that balances incredible flavor with minimal effort—this is the recipe our family actually makes on a busy weeknight.

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Tired of Complicated Dinners? Here’s Why This Easy Lasagna Will Be Your New Family Favorite

This easy lasagna recipe is the perfect solution for a crowd-pleasing weeknight dinner because it streamlines the classic Italian dish without sacrificing flavor. By using clever shortcuts like a quality jarred marinara sauce and no-boil noodles, you get all the comforting layers of savory meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and bubbly mozzarella in significantly less time. It’s a simple, forgiving recipe perfect for beginners, yet it delivers a rich, homemade taste that will make it a staple in your meal rotation. We’ve honed this recipe through trial and error to ensure it’s the perfect balance of incredible flavor and minimal effort—this is the go-to our family relies on for a satisfying meal on a busy evening.

How to Make The Only Easy Lasagna Recipe You’ll Ever Need (Step-by-Step)

The 5 essential steps to making this easy lasagna are: 1. Make the quick meat sauce, 2. Mix the creamy cheese filling, 3. Layer the sauce, noodles, and cheese, 4. Bake covered, then uncovered, and 5. Rest before serving. This straightforward process breaks down the recipe into manageable stages. By preparing three main components—the savory meat sauce, the creamy cheese filling, and the ready-to-use noodles—you can assemble this comforting dish with confidence and ease.

1. Making the Quick & Savory Meat Sauce

To make a quick and savory meat sauce, you will brown ground beef and Italian sausage together, then simmer them briefly with diced onion, garlic, and a jar of high-quality marinara sauce. This method creates a sauce with deep, developed flavor in under 20 minutes.

Ingredients:
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 lb Italian sausage (casings removed)
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (24 oz) jar of good quality marinara or spaghetti sauce
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
1. In a large skillet or Dutch oven, cook the ground beef and Italian sausage over medium-high heat until browned, breaking it up with a spoon. Drain off any excess grease.
2. Add the diced onion and cook for 5 minutes until softened. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
3. Stir in the jarred marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5-10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Set aside.

Pro-Tip: Using a 1:1 ratio of ground beef to Italian sausage creates the most flavorful sauce. The pork in the sausage adds richness and moisture that all-beef sauces sometimes lack.

Pin this savory sauce tip for your next Italian night!

2. Whipping Up the Creamy Cheese Filling

To create the perfect creamy cheese filling, simply combine whole milk ricotta cheese with shredded mozzarella, grated Parmesan, a large egg, and fresh parsley in a bowl. Mix these ingredients until they are evenly combined for a rich and flavorful layer.

Ingredients:
- 1 (15 oz) container whole milk ricotta cheese
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
1. In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, 1 ½ cups of mozzarella cheese, ½ cup of Parmesan cheese, the egg, and fresh parsley.
2. Mix well until everything is evenly combined. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper.

Lesson Learned: Don’t skip the egg! It acts as a binder and is the secret to preventing a watery ricotta layer, ensuring your lasagna slices are clean and hold their shape perfectly.

Save this creamy cheese filling recipe to your ‘Pasta Perfection’ board!

3. The Secret to Perfect Layers (Assembling Your Lasagna)

The secret to perfect layers is to start with a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom of the dish to prevent sticking, then repeat the sequence of noodles, ricotta mixture, and meat sauce. Finishing with a final layer of noodles, sauce, and a generous cheese topping ensures every bite is balanced.

Materials Needed:
- 9×13 inch baking dish
- Prepared Meat Sauce
- Prepared Cheese Filling
- 9-12 no-boil lasagna noodles
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (for topping)
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese (for topping)
Step-by-Step Directions:
1. Preheat & Prep: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Spread a thin layer (about 1 cup) of meat sauce on the bottom of the baking dish. This prevents the noodles from sticking.
2. First Layer: Arrange a single layer of no-boil noodles over the sauce. Spread half of the ricotta cheese mixture evenly over the noodles. Top with about 1 ½ cups of meat sauce.
3. Second Layer: Repeat with another layer of noodles, the remaining ricotta mixture, and another 1 ½ cups of meat sauce.
4. Final Layer: Top with a final layer of noodles, the remaining meat sauce, and sprinkle evenly with the 2 cups of mozzarella and ¼ cup of Parmesan cheese.

Pro-Tip: Make sure the top layer of noodles is completely covered with sauce. No-boil noodles need moisture to cook properly, and any exposed edges can become hard and crunchy.

Never forget the layers again! Pin this easy guide.

4. Baking to Golden, Bubbly Perfection

To bake lasagna to perfection, you must first bake it covered with foil at 375°F for 30 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for another 15-20 minutes. This two-step process steams the noodles and cooks the interior first, then melts and browns the cheese topping until it’s golden and bubbly.

Materials Needed:
- Assembled Lasagna
- Aluminum Foil
Step-by-Step Directions:
1. Cover & Bake: Tightly cover the baking dish with aluminum foil. Bake in the preheated 375°F oven for 30 minutes. Baking it covered steams the noodles and allows the lasagna to cook through without the top burning.
2. Uncover & Finish: Remove the foil and bake for another 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese on top is completely melted, golden brown, and bubbly.

Pro-Tip: For an extra crispy, browned cheese crust, switch the oven to broil for the last 1-2 minutes of cooking. Watch it carefully to prevent burning!

Share this drool-worthy photo with someone who needs to make it for you!

5. The Most Important Step: Let It Rest!

The most important final step is to let the lasagna rest, uncovered, for at least 15-20 minutes after taking it out of the oven. This crucial waiting period allows the hot, molten layers of sauce and cheese to set and firm up, which is the key to getting clean, perfect slices.

Instructions:
1. Once you remove the lasagna from the oven, let it sit on a cooling rack, uncovered, for at least 15-20 minutes before slicing and serving.
2. This crucial resting period allows the layers to set and firm up. If you cut into it immediately, the cheese and sauce will ooze out, and you’ll have a soupy mess instead of clean, beautiful slices.

Lesson Learned: It’s tempting to dig in right away, but patience pays off. A 15-minute rest is the difference between lasagna soup and a picture-perfect, restaurant-quality slice that holds its shape.

Want perfect slices every time? Pin this essential tip!

Key Takeaways: Your Quick Guide to The Best Easy Lasagna

Use Quality Ingredients: A great jarred sauce and a block of mozzarella you shred yourself make a huge difference in flavor and meltability.
Don’t Skip the Egg: The egg in the ricotta mixture is essential for binding the cheese layer and preventing it from becoming watery.
Cover, Then Uncover: Bake covered with foil first to cook everything through, then remove the foil to get that perfect golden, bubbly cheese crust.
Patience is Key: Let the lasagna rest for at least 15 minutes after baking. This is the secret to clean, beautiful slices that don’t fall apart.

Final Thoughts

Now you have the ultimate recipe for easy lasagna that’s guaranteed to get rave reviews. This guide proves that a delicious, impressive, and homemade lasagna is completely achievable, even on a busy schedule. By embracing a few simple shortcuts, you can bring this classic comfort food to your family’s table any night of the week.

What’s your family’s favorite comfort food dinner? Let me know in the comments below

The Only Easy Lasagna Recipe You Will Ever Want To Make

Tired of Complicated Dinners? Here’s Why This Easy Lasagna Will Be Your New Family Favorite