Description
Enjoy a heartwarming meal with our American Beauty Lasagna recipe, layered with rich meat sauce, creamy cheese, and tender pasta for the ultimate comfort food experience.
Ingredients
For the Meat Sauce:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
For the Cheese Mixture:
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Additional Ingredients:
- 12 lasagna noodles, uncooked
- 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- Additional Parmesan cheese for topping (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- For the Meat Sauce: In a large skillet, cook the ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat until the meat is no longer pink; drain. Add the tomatoes, basil, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- For the Cheese Mixture: In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg, Parmesan cheese, parsley, and salt. Mix well.
- Prepare the Lasagna Noodles: Cook the lasagna noodles according to the package instructions, then drain and rinse with cold water.
- Assembling the Lasagna: Spread a thin layer of the meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Arrange a layer of noodles over the sauce. Spread with one-third of the ricotta cheese mixture. Top with a third of the remaining meat sauce and a third of the mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers twice, topping the final layer with mozzarella and additional Parmesan cheese (if using).
- Bake uncovered for 30 minutes or until the lasagna is bubbly and cheese is golden brown. If you notice the cheese or edges browning too quickly, you may cover the lasagna with aluminum foil.
- Resting: Let the lasagna stand for 10-15 minutes before cutting. This time allows the lasagna to set and makes serving cleaner and easier.
- Serving: Cut into squares and serve warm.
Notes
- Adding vegetables like spinach or bell peppers to the sauce can increase the nutritional value and add flavor.
- The lasagna can be assembled the night before, refrigerated, and baked the next day (additional baking time may be required).
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American/Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 90mg