Classic Lasagna Recipe

This Classic Lasagna Recipe is a comfort food, filled with Italian sausage, spinach and a cheesy ricotta filling; you will fall in love with every bite.

Serve this easy lasagna recipe with some garlic bread, Parmesan roasted green beans and a Caesar salad!

If you’re looking for a new lasagna recipe, look no further!

Traditional lasagna

This homemade lasagna recipe uses a combination of Italian sausage, baby spinach, ricotta, mozzarella, parmesan cheese and herbs to create a classic recipe that we all know and love.

Ingredients needed

Here is the basic list of ingredients you will need to prepare this lasagna recipe. As always, you can find the full list of ingredients in the printable recipe card below.

Italian sausage – I like to use a spicy or hot sausage in this recipe.
Baby spinach
Ricotta cheese – use full fat or low fat depending on your preference.
Mozzarella cheese – use full fat or low fat depending on your preference.
Parmesan cheese – you can use it pre-grated or grate it fresh yourself.
Italian spices – try my homemade mix!
Garlic powder
Lasagna noodles – I buy pre-cooked lasagna noodles, but you can also buy uncooked and cooked noodles yourself.
Marinara sauce – use your favorite jarred marinara sauce or my homemade version.

How to make easy lasagna recipe

It’s all about the lasagna layers! I like to keep it simple by using oven-ready lasagna noodles, which saves you a lot of time.

BROWN THE SAUSAGE

Start by browning the sausage in a large skillet, breaking it up with a spoon until it is crumbled and no longer pink. Then stir in two handfuls of spinach until everything is wilted. Remove from heat and set aside.

MAKE THE CREAMY RICOTTA CHEESE MIXTURE

Then, in a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, 1 cup mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, egg, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Stir until combined.

LAYER LASAGNE

Spread 1/2 cup of marinara sauce in the bottom of the baking dish. Then place 3 lasagna noodles on top of the sauce and spread half of the ricotta mixture evenly over the layer of noodles.

Then brush half of the meat mixture. Spread 1 cup of marinara sauce over the sausage and top with 3 more noodles. Then spread the remaining ricotta over the noodles, followed by the remaining sausage mixture.

Finally, finish with the last 3 noodles and then the remaining sauce.

BAKING @350°F

Cover the lasagna with foil and bake for 45 minutes. Remove the foil and cover with the remaining 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, then bake uncovered for 15 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Let stand 10 to 15 minutes before cutting.

Recipe tips and substitutions

If you like a spicy lasagna, increase the sauce by half a cup per layer of lasagna noodles.
Make sure to let your lasagna rest for 10 to 15 minutes before cutting so you get perfect slices.
Feel free to leave out the spinach or replace it with grated zucchini. Just know that zucchini will add extra moisture to the dish.
If necessary, replace the Italian sausage with turkey sausage or ground beef. Or simply leave it out for a vegetarian lasagna.
Try adding a tablespoon of prepared basil pesto to the ricotta mixture for an extra flavor boost!
If you want even more protein, use homemade meat sauce instead of marinara sauce!
Want to add a slight kick? Sprinkle some red pepper flakes on top!
The trick to ensuring you have the best lasagna is to cover with foil while baking. This creates steam in the dish, making the noodles nice and tender.

Frequently Asked Questions

Create ahead and save

The great thing about this recipe is that you can easily prepare the lasagna up to 2 days in advance and refrigerate until you’re ready to bake! I often do this when I know we have company so I can prepare in advance and enjoy the company while they are in town.
If you have leftover lasagna, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 months in the refrigerator and up to 3 months in the freezer.

How to freeze lasagna

As I mentioned before, lasagna is one of my favorite dishes to make ahead of time and freeze for an easy weeknight dinner. I prepare two of these casseroles, make one for dinner and freeze the other for a later time.

Simply layer the ingredients as you would in the recipe, but cover tightly with plastic wrap and a layer of foil before baking, then freeze the unbaked lasagna for up to 3 months.

For baking frozen lasagna: Remove the foil and plastic wrap and place the foil back on top. Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 1/2 hours, remove foil, add cheese and bake until bubbly.

Ricotta cheese or cottage cheese?

Do you reach for ricotta or cottage cheese when you add that cheesy layer to your lasagna? My mother-in-law uses cottage cheese and it’s great… BUT – I absolutely love the creamy texture of ricotta cheese. I like that it holds up during baking and doesn’t add extra moisture to the lasagna.

PRO TIP: If you’re looking for a lasagna that cuts beautifully without having to serve it with a spoon, you’ll definitely want to get this one. use ricotta cheese.

For my recipe, I amped up the cheese factor by adding both mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese to the ricotta. Season it with salt, pepper, Italian herbs and garlic powder and bind it all together with an egg.

Can I use a different size dish instead of a 9×13 baking dish?

Absolute! If you prefer, you can use an 8×8, 9×9, or other sized dish as long as it fits the noodles properly. You may want to adjust the cooking time depending on the size of the dish you are using.

More Italian recipes

This perfect lasagna recipe is a great way to make an easy dinner that the whole family will love! Here are some more Italian recipes I think you’ll like…

If you’ve tried this Homemade Classic Lasagna recipe, please rate the recipe card and let me know in the comments!

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This classic lasagna recipe is so easy and tastes amazing! Filled with Italian sausage, spinach and ricotta cheese, you can’t go wrong with this comfort dish!

Preparation time15 minutes

Cooking time1 o’clock

Total time1 o’clock 15 minutes

Class: Dinner

Kitchen: Italian

Portions: 12

Calories: 378 kcal

Author: Shawn

Ingredients

1 lb. Italian sausage, ground
4 handful baby spinach
15 oz ricotta cheese
2 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, divided
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1 egg
1 teaspoon Italian spices
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salty
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
9 Lasagna noodles, oven ready/not cooking
2 1/2 cups marinara sauce

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Brown sausage in a large skillet, breaking it up with a spoon until crumbled and no longer pink. Stir in two handfuls of spinach at a time until it is all wilted. Remove from heat and set aside.
In a bowl, combine the ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, egg, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Stir until combined.
Spread 1/2 cup marinara sauce in the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Place 3 lasagna noodles on top of the sauce and divide half of the ricotta mixture evenly over the noodles. Spread with 1/2 of the sausage mixture. Spread 1 cup of marinara sauce over the sausage and top with 3 more noodles. Spread the remaining ricotta over the noodles, followed by the remaining sausage mixture. Top with the last 3 noodles and then the last cup of marinara sauce.
Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes. Remove the foil and cover with the remaining 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, then bake uncovered for 15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Let stand 10 to 15 minutes before cutting. To enjoy!

Comments

Freezing lasagna:

Simply layer the ingredients as mentioned above, but cover tightly with plastic wrap and a layer of foil before baking, then freeze for up to 3 months.
For baking lasagna from the freezer: Remove the foil and plastic wrap and place the foil back on top. Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 1/2 hours, remove foil, add cheese and bake until bubbly.

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Keywords: Italian sausage, lasagna, mozzarella cheese, ricotta cheese

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