Description
This Lasagna Recipe is a classic Italian-American comfort food dish that’s perfect for any occasion. It features layers of tender pasta, rich meat sauce, and a creamy cheese filling, all baked to perfection.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef (15-20% fat content)
- 1 medium onion, finely diced
- 2 large garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 cup dry red wine or beef broth
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 24 oz marinara sauce (3 cups)
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, ground
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons parsley, finely chopped
- 9 lasagna noodles, cooked al dente
Ingredients for Cheese Sauce:
- 16 oz low-fat cottage cheese
- 15 oz reduced-fat ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons parsley, finely chopped, plus more to garnish
- 4 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided
Instructions
- Make Meat Sauce: Place a deep pan or Dutch oven over medium/high heat and add 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 lb ground beef, and diced onion. Sauté, breaking up the meat, for 5 minutes or until beef is no longer pink. Add pressed garlic and sauté another minute until fragrant. Add ¼ cup wine and stir for 2 minutes or until wine is nearly evaporated. Add 3 cups marinara, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper, ¼ teaspoon thyme, ½ teaspoon sugar, and 2 tablespoons parsley. Bring to a simmer, then cover and cook for 5 minutes.
- Make Cheese Sauce: In a large mixing bowl, combine 16 oz cottage cheese, 15 oz ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella, 1 egg, and 2 tablespoons parsley. Mix well.
- Cook Noodles: Preheat the oven to 375˚F. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add salt and 9 lasagna noodles. Cook until al dente according to package instructions, then drain and pour in cold water to stop the cooking process and prevent sticking.
- Assemble Lasagna: Spread ½ cup meat sauce in the bottom of a deep 9×13 casserole dish. Add 3 noodles, spread on ⅓ of the meat sauce, and sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Spoon on and spread the top with ½ of your cheese sauce. Repeat until you have 3 layers of noodles.
- Bake: Poke 9-12 toothpicks over the surface of your lasagna (to keep the foil from sticking to the cheese). Cover with foil and bake at 375˚F for 45 minutes. Remove foil and broil for 3 to 5 minutes, or until cheese turns golden. Let lasagna rest 30 minutes before slicing.
Notes
- Meat: You can substitute ground beef with ground turkey or Italian sausage.
- Wine: If you don’t have red wine, you can use beef broth instead.
- Cheese: You can use a combination of different cheeses for the filling and topping.
- Noodles: Be sure to cook the lasagna noodles al dente, as they will continue to cook in the oven.
- Resting Time: Allowing the lasagna to rest before slicing helps it to set and makes it easier to serve.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Serving
- Calories: 400kcal
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
