Easy Lasagna Recipe – Simple, Cheesy & Family-Approved

Easy Lasagna Recipe nights are my favorite—those comfort-filled, cheesy layers, the smell wafting through the kitchen, and minimal cleanup? Yes, please. If you’ve ever stood over a boiling pot trying not to rip fragile lasagna noodles while wrangling a toddler or checking work emails, I see you. This Easy Lasagna Recipe skips that chaos and jumps straight to flavor. No boiling noodles. No complicated steps.

Just a hearty, satisfying meal that tastes like Sunday dinner without the marathon effort. Whether it’s for your hungry family, picky kids, or just yourself and a glass of wine—this one’s a win. You’ll love the combo of ground beef and sweet Italian sausage paired with a cheesy trio of ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan. And don’t worry about making sauce from scratch—we’re keeping things simple (and totally delicious) with your favorite store-bought spaghetti sauce. Let’s dig in, shall we?

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What is Easy Lasagna Recipe?

This Easy Lasagna Recipe is exactly what it sounds like—a quick and straightforward way to make the classic Italian comfort dish we all love, minus the need to pre-cook the noodles. Traditional lasagna is amazing, but it usually demands a sink full of dishes and way too much time. Here, we use regular uncooked lasagna noodles (not even oven-ready!) and let them bake to tender perfection right in the oven. The rich meat sauce comes together in one pan using ground beef, Italian sausage, and store-bought marinara.

Then, we layer it with a creamy cheese mixture, stack it all up, and bake it until it’s bubbly and golden. You still get all the nostalgic flavor of grandma’s Sunday supper, but in a weeknight-friendly format. And bonus: the leftovers taste even better the next day. It’s comfort food without the chaos—ideal for busy weeknights or when you’re craving something warm, hearty, and low-effort.

Reasons to Try Easy Lasagna Recipe

First off, it’s easy—like, actually easy. No fancy equipment, no boiling noodles, and no making your own sauce (unless that’s your thing, no judgment). This Easy Lasagna Recipe is a true time-saver, clocking in with just 20 minutes of prep. For moms juggling homework help and carpools, or anyone who hits that 5pm “what’s-for-dinner” panic, this dish is your dinner lifeline. It’s also picky-eater-approved—cheesy, saucy, and layered with familiar flavors that kids and adults both adore. Plus, the flexibility is unbeatable.

Want to swap ricotta for cottage cheese? Go for it. Add spinach or mushrooms? Why not! Whether you’re feeding a crowd, doing meal prep, or just want something that makes amazing leftovers, this lasagna delivers. It also freezes beautifully, so you can make one now and save one for later. Bottom line? You get a cozy, comforting dinner with minimal effort and maximum satisfaction.

Ingredients Needed to Make Easy Lasagna Recipe

• 1 pound ground beef
• ½ pound sweet Italian sausage
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 48 ounces spaghetti sauce (your favorite kind works!)
• 15 ounces ricotta cheese (or cottage cheese if you prefer)
• 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 2 large eggs
• ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 teaspoons dried parsley or 4 tablespoons freshly snipped
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 12 regular lasagna noodles (not oven-ready)
• ¼ cup water (if needed, depending on your sauce’s thickness)

Instructions to Make Easy Lasagna Recipe

Step 1: Preheat and Prep

Preheat your oven to 350ºF and grab a 9×13-inch casserole dish. Give it a quick spray with cooking spray—this helps prevent the dreaded lasagna stick-age that nobody wants to scrub off later.

Step 2: Make the Meat Sauce

In a large skillet over medium heat, toss in your ground beef and sweet Italian sausage. Cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until it’s fully browned. Once browned, drain off any excess fat—unless you like things greasy (hey, you do you). Add in the minced garlic and pour in all of your spaghetti sauce. Stir and let it simmer together for about 5 minutes. This step lets all those flavors become BFFs while giving you time to prep the cheese mix.

Step 3: Mix the Cheese Layer

In a big ol’ mixing bowl, combine your ricotta cheese (or cottage cheese), 2 cups of mozzarella, both eggs, ½ cup of Parmesan, parsley, salt, and black pepper. Stir until everything is creamy and well-mixed. Try not to eat it with a spoon (or do, I won’t tell).

Step 4: Layer the Lasagna

Now for the fun part: the layering. Start by spreading about ¾ cup of meat sauce on the bottom of your baking dish—just enough to coat it. Then lay down 3 uncooked lasagna noodles. Spoon on ⅓ of the cheese mixture and then ¼ of the meat sauce. Repeat that pattern—noodles, cheese, sauce—until you’ve built three full layers.

Top it off with 3 more noodles, the rest of your sauce, the remaining mozzarella (1 cup), and a sprinkle of the last bit of Parmesan. If your sauce is thick, drizzle about ¼ cup of water around the edges of the pan. If your sauce is thinner (like Rao’s or a classic Ragu), you can skip the water or just add a splash.

Step 5: Cover and Bake

Grab a sheet of aluminum foil and spray the inside (the side that’ll touch the cheese) with cooking spray so nothing sticks. Cover the lasagna tightly with the foil and bake it for 50 minutes. After that, uncover it and let it bake for another 10 minutes so the top gets nice and melty.

Step 6: Let it Rest and Serve

Once it’s out of the oven, let your lasagna sit for 10 minutes before cutting. It’ll still be piping hot, but this short wait helps everything firm up so it slices cleanly. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley if you’re feeling fancy, and serve it with garlic bread, a salad, or maybe a glass of wine (just sayin’).

Need more hearty dinners? You’ll love our Chicken Crescent Roll Casserole or this ultra-flavorful BBQ Chicken Mac and Cheese.

What to Serve with Easy Lasagna Recipe

Lasagna is a star on its own, but pairing it with the right sides takes it to the next level. Garlic bread is basically non-negotiable—extra points if it’s cheesy. A crisp green salad with a tangy vinaigrette balances out the richness of the lasagna. If you want to sneak in more veggies, try roasted broccoli or Grilled Chicken and Broccoli Bowls as a side. And let’s not forget dessert! A refreshing option like Greek Yogurt Blueberry Muffins or Strawberry Custard Tart is a sweet way to end the meal without feeling overly stuffed. Got company? Serve with a simple antipasto platter or a bottle of Chianti, and you’ve got yourself a dinner party without the stress.

Key Tips for Making Easy Lasagna Recipe

Here’s the deal: regular noodles work like a charm, even though you’re not boiling them. Just make sure your sauce is saucy enough—too thick and you’ll end up with crunchy noodles (no thanks). If you’re using a very hearty meat sauce, add ¼ to ½ cup water around the edges before baking. Don’t skip spraying the foil—otherwise you’ll lose half your top cheese layer to the foil, and that’s just tragic. For a flavor boost, try mixing in fresh herbs like basil or oregano into your cheese mixture. And if ricotta isn’t your jam, cottage cheese works beautifully. You can even make this ahead and refrigerate it overnight, which makes it even better because the flavors marry. Oh, and if you’re cooking for a crowd, this recipe makes 15 servings—yes, 15! Perfect for leftovers or freezer meals.

Storage and Reheating Tips Easy Lasagna Recipe

Got leftovers? Lucky you! This Easy Lasagna Recipe stores well in the fridge for up to 4 days. Just cover the pan with foil or pop the slices into airtight containers. For freezing, wrap individual portions tightly in plastic wrap and foil, then stash in a freezer bag for up to 3 months. Reheating is easy—pop refrigerated slices in the microwave for about 2-3 minutes. For the oven, cover with foil and bake at 350ºF until warmed through (about 20 minutes). From frozen, thaw in the fridge overnight first. If you’re all about the meal prep life, you can even assemble the lasagna ahead, cover it, and refrigerate or freeze it before baking. Just add about 10 extra minutes to the bake time if you’re cooking straight from the fridge.

FAQs

Can I use oven-ready noodles?
You can, but you don’t need to. Regular noodles cook just fine in this recipe thanks to the moisture from the sauce.

Can I use homemade sauce?
Absolutely! If you have a batch of homemade marinara or meat sauce, go for it.

Is it better with ricotta or cottage cheese?
Totally personal preference. Ricotta gives you that classic Italian texture, while cottage cheese is creamier and sometimes lighter.

Can I add vegetables?
Sure! Sautéed spinach, mushrooms, or zucchini work great. Just cook off extra moisture so it doesn’t make the lasagna soggy.

Can I make this gluten-free?
Yes, just swap in your favorite gluten-free lasagna noodles and double-check your sauce is gluten-free too.

Final Thoughts

There’s a reason this Easy Lasagna Recipe is a go-to in so many homes. It’s comforting, satisfying, and comes together with less effort than you’d think. Whether you’re feeding your family on a weeknight, hosting friends, or batch-cooking for the week ahead, it’s a solid pick. And with no boiling required, it’s basically lasagna on easy mode. So grab your casserole dish, pour a little wine, and make a meal everyone will remember. If you’re looking for more easy meals like this one, check out our Creamy Chicken Sausage Orzo or this summery Tomato Zucchini Shrimp Pasta. Dinner, done and delicious.

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