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Delicious easy meat lasagna with layers of beef, cheese, and pasta ready to be served.

Easy Meat Lasagna

A cozy dinner that combines hearty flavors with simple ingredients, easy meat lasagna is perfect for family dinners and meal prep.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 400
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta and Meat Layer
  • 12 oz Lasagna noodles Regular or oven-ready
  • 1 lb Ground beef Lean recommended
  • 1 jar Jarred marinara sauce Choose one with good flavor
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning Or use dried basil and oregano
Cheese Layer
  • 15 oz Ricotta cheese For the creamy layer
  • 1 Egg Helps the ricotta layer set
  • 1 cup Parmesan cheese Add for flavor
  • 2 cups Mozzarella cheese For the melty top
Flavor Enhancers
  • 2 cloves Garlic Minced for flavor
  • 1 medium Onion Chopped for flavor
  • to taste Salt Season every layer
  • to taste Pepper Season every layer

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Cook the noodles according to package instructions if using regular noodles. If using oven-ready, skip this step.
  2. In a large pan, cook the chopped onion in a little oil until translucent. Add ground beef and cook until browned. Drain excess grease, and add minced garlic and marinara sauce with Italian seasoning; simmer for a few minutes.
  3. In a bowl, mix ricotta cheese with egg, a handful of parmesan, salt, pepper, and a pinch of Italian seasoning.
Assembly
  1. In a baking dish, spread a thin layer of meat sauce. Layer noodles on top, followed by the ricotta mixture, mozzarella cheese, and more meat sauce. Repeat layers until you reach the top.
  2. Finish with a layer of noodles and cover with remaining meat sauce, mozzarella, and sprinkle with parmesan.
Baking
  1. Cover with foil and bake at 375°F for about 35 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes until bubbly and golden.
  2. Let it rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing to hold layers better.

Notes

You can prepare this lasagna in advance; it can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours or frozen. For optimal texture, use fresh mozzarella and don’t skip on the resting time.