Homemade Lasagna

Homemade Lasagna

Rich homemade meat sauce, creamy cheese sauce, and layers of pasta baked until bubbly and golden.

Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Rest Time: 15 minutes
Serves: 8 to 10

Ingredients

Wet Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil
1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
2 (14 oz) cans finely chopped tomatoes
¾ cup beef broth

Dry Ingredients

12 lasagna noodles (Pre-cooked)
3 tbsp all-purpose flour

Vegetables / Produce

1 yellow onion, diced
3 carrots, finely diced
2 celery stalks, finely diced (optional)
5 garlic cloves, minced

Meat

2¼ lbs lean ground beef

Seasonings

2 tsp sugar
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper

Cheese Sauce Ingredients

Wet Ingredients

3 tbsp butter
3⅓ cups whole milk

Dry Ingredients

3 tbsp all-purpose flour

Cheese

1¾ cups shredded mozzarella or mild white cheese
½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella, for topping

Seasonings

1 tsp ground nutmeg
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper

Directions

Make the Meat Sauce

1. Heat a large Dutch oven or heavy pot over medium heat. Add the olive oil.

2. Add the onion, carrots, celery (if using), and garlic. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened.

3. Stir in the tomato paste and sugar. Cook for 2 minutes to caramelize the tomato paste.

4. Add the chopped tomatoes, beef broth, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Stir well.

5. In a separate skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef until deeply browned, breaking it into small pieces. This should take 8 to 10 minutes.

6. Transfer the browned beef to the tomato sauce and stir together.

7. Reduce heat to low, cover partially, and simmer for 40 to 60 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Make the Cheese Sauce

1. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter.

2. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute.

3. Slowly pour in the milk while whisking constantly.

4. Continue whisking over medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes, until thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.

5. Reduce heat to low and stir in the mozzarella and Parmesan until melted.

6. Season with nutmeg, salt, and pepper.

Assemble

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.

2. Spread a thin layer of cheese sauce on the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish.

3. Add a layer of lasagna noodles.

4. Spread a layer of meat sauce.

5. Spoon over a layer of cheese sauce.

6. Repeat the layers until all ingredients are used.

7. Finish with the remaining mozzarella cheese.

Bake

1. Cover loosely with foil.

2. Bake at 400°F for 25 minutes.

3. Remove the foil and bake another 15 to 20 minutes, until the cheese is browned and bubbling.

4. Let the lasagna rest for 15 minutes before slicing.