Mom’s Homemade Lasagna

One of my favorite comfort foods has always been my mom’s homemade lasagna. She is an absolute wizard in the kitchen, and somehow everything she makes turns out amazing. I’ve watched her make this lasagna more times than I can count, and she always insists she’s telling me every ingredient she uses.

But if I’m being honest…I have my suspicions.

I swear she’s keeping one secret ingredient to herself because, no matter how closely I follow her recipe, mine never tastes quite as incredible as hers. Maybe it’s just years of experience, or maybe it’s the extra love only a mom can add to a meal.

Either way, this recipe is as close as I’ve been able to get, and it’s absolutely delicious. It’s rich, cheesy, comforting, and one of those meals that brings everyone to the table. The best part? It’s incredibly forgiving. Feel free to make it your own by using your favorite meat, sauce, or cheese.

I hope your family enjoys it as much as mine always has.

Ingredients

• 1 box lasagna noodles (I usually use Creamette—mostly because I like the green box! )

• 1–2 pounds ground beef, browned and drained (Ground turkey, Italian sausage, or a combination also works wonderfully.)

• 2 jars pasta sauce (Homemade is fantastic if you have it! Otherwise, my favorite store-bought sauce is Prego.)

• 1–2 (8-ounce) bags shredded mozzarella cheese

• 2 eggs

• 1 (15–16 ounce) container ricotta cheese or cottage cheese

• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving

• Salt and pepper, to taste

• Italian seasoning, to taste

  
  

Homemade Italian Seasoning (Optional)

If you grow your own herbs like I do, you can easily make your own Italian seasoning by combining equal parts:

• Dried basil

• Dried oregano

• Dried rosemary

• Dried marjoram

• Dried thyme

  
  

I love using herbs I’ve grown and dried in my own garden—it adds such a wonderful homemade touch!

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F.

2. Brown the ground beef in a large skillet or saucepan. Drain any excess grease, then stir in the pasta sauce. Allow the sauce to simmer for a few minutes while you prepare the cheese mixture.

3. In a medium bowl, combine:

   • Ricotta (or cottage cheese)

   • 2 eggs

   • ½ cup Parmesan cheese

   • 1 cup shredded mozzarella

   • Salt and pepper

   • Italian seasoning

4. Mix until well combined.

5. Spread a thin layer of meat sauce across the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.

6. Add a single layer of uncooked lasagna noodles over the sauce.

7. Spread a layer of the cheese mixture over the noodles.

8. Spoon another layer of meat sauce over the cheese.

9. Continue layering noodles, cheese mixture, and meat sauce until you’ve used all the ingredients, finishing with a layer of meat sauce on top.

10. Sprinkle generously with shredded mozzarella cheese and a little extra Italian seasoning.

11. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 1 hour. Remove the foil during the last 15 minutes so the cheese becomes golden, bubbly, and beautifully browned.

    
    

Tip: Place your baking dish on a cookie sheet before putting it in the oven. If your lasagna bubbles over (and mine often does!), you’ll be thankful you did!

12. Let the lasagna rest for 10–15 minutes before slicing. This helps everything set up nicely and makes serving much easier.

    
    

Serving Suggestions

Serve with your favorite salad, warm garlic bread, or roasted vegetables.

And if you’re feeling a little fancy, pour a glass of your favorite wine, light a candle, and enjoy.

Every meal can feel like a gourmet dinner with a little love and presentation!